Kaizer Chiefs legend and national first division football expert Absalom "Scara" Thindwa tips Maritzburg United to gain automatic promotion this season.
Last season the Team of Choice were relegated from the DStv Premiership to the second tier after failing to win the play-offs.
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They are currently in third position in the standings, with eight points gathered in the three matches so far.
On top that, is newcomers Orbit College, who have surprisingly collected 12 points in four matches.
They are closely followed by Clinton Larsen's Magesi FC.
Asked which former Premier Soccer League side he thought stood a better chance of playing top-tier football again next season, Thindwa said Maritzburg were in a more favourable position compared to Marumo Gallants and Baroka FC.
"Maritzburg have got a very experienced coach in Zipho Dlangalala, he was very smart to sign Simo Dladla as his assistant," Thindwa tells KickOff.
"Dladla understands the national first division very well. He's been at Royal AM before as a technical guy.
"Other than that, they have a player like Tshepo Gumede who comes with a DStv Premiership experience.
"They have a very solid team Maritzburg. They keep you under pressure by passing the ball around.
"And they still have Friday Samu, and I think he is going to score a lot of goals for Maritzburg. I like the boy.
"Coming to Marumo Gallants, their current coach Pitso Dladla joined them late, during pre-season he was not there, they had different coaches.
"Baroka, they are current coach Stan Nkoane once worked with Sekhukhune. Speaking to him you get the impression that he understands the game.
"But this is his first time in charge of a team like Baroka, especially in the national first division.
"He needs time to implement to the players the way he wants them to play, but whether Baroka will give him enough time, I don't know. He will need another five games to get things right.
"Remember Nkoane he is also new in this league, so he is also learning, he is still establishing himself.
"Because of all that I don't think Baroka can gain automatic promotion this season. At the moment I wouldn't put them there."
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