The 2021/22 DStv Premiership season has entered the business end of the footballing calendar with three rounds of fixtures, relegation battles and qualification for the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup still to be played for.
In respect of the latter, and the honour that inevitably comes with playing continental football, no fewer than six PSL teams are still competing for a spot in either of Africa's two showpiece club competitions via their league placings.
| TEAM | M | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
| 2. | Royal AM | 27 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 37 | 24 | 13 | 45 |
| 3. | Cape Town City | 27 | 11 | 12 | 4 | 30 | 23 | 7 | 45 |
| 4. | Kaizer Chiefs | 27 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 30 | 23 | 7 | 42 |
| 5. | Orlando Pirates | 27 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 28 | 23 | 5 | 40 |
| 6. | Stellenbosch FC | 27 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 27 | 22 | 5 | 40 |
| 7. | AmaZulu | 27 | 8 | 15 | 4 | 23 | 20 | 3 | 39 |
Just six points separate second-placed Royal AM, who occupy the final qualifying spot for the Champions League, and seventh place AmaZulu, who delivered a strong showing in this year's competition after ending as runners-up in the league last time around.
Current league position: 2 (45 points)Remaining three fixtures: Orlando Pirates (H), Golden Arrows (A) Mamelodi Sundowns (A)
A surprise defeat to Maritzburg United on Wednesday came as a blow to Royal AM's continental ambitions but the high-flying outfit are still in pole position to reach the CAF Champions League. In the club's first season in the DStv Premiership – having bought out Bloemfontein Celtic's status last year – the newcomers have climbed to second place in the league standings and will almost certainly qualify for the Champions League if they win their remaining three matches.
However, that will be easier said that done as Royal AM have the toughest run-in of the six teams that are still realistically competing for CAF qualification. Standing in their path is a home clash against Orlando Pirates and an away trip to newly-crowned champions Mamelodi Sundowns, with a tricky tie against Golden Arrows in between.
Current league position: 3 (45 points)
Remaining three fixtures: TS Galaxy (H), AmaZulu (H) Stellenbosch FC (A)
Level with Royal AM on points, Cape Town City are in a similar position in that they will be able to secure continental qualification if they win all three of their remaining fixtures of the DStv Premiership campaign. Should both they and Royal do so, the Citizens have at least a six-goal goal difference deficit to make up if they are to qualify for the Champions League, but would at the very least secure a spot in the Confederation Cup.
They too have a difficult run-in, however. A home match against relegation-threatened TS Galaxy is expected to yield three points for the Citizens but they will then have to overcome the challenge of a resurgent AmaZulu whole will be looking to stage a late bid to remain on the African continent. City will then end the season in the Cape Derby away to Stellenbosch FC, who also harbour ambitions of continental football next season.
Current league position: 4 (42 points)
Remaining three fixtures: Mamelodi Sundowns (H), Sekhukhune United (A) Swallows FC (H)
Three points adrift of the aforementioned duo, the situation is a bit trickier for Kaizer Chiefs to qualify for either the Champions League or Confederation Cup. As things stand, Chiefs would accordingly need to win all three of their remaining matches and hope that both Royal AM and Cape Town City lose at least one of their upcoming fixtures.
A daunting challenge lies immediately ahead against champions Sundowns, which, if overcome, will leave the Amakhosi in a good position to compete ahead of subsequent fixtures against minnows Sekhukhune United and a struggling Swallows FC.
Current league position: 5 (40 points)
Remaining three fixtures: Royal AM (A), Maritzburg United (H) SuperSport United (H)
Pirates are currently South Africa's last remaining representative in Africa this season after reaching the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final and will retain their place in the competition next season if they go on to win this year's competition. That might be the Buccanneers' best avenue forward as the club are currently five points behind Royal AM and Cape Town City.
They can close the gap on the former when the two sides meet later this month and could even go second with subsequent wins over Maritzburg United or Swallows if, on the odd chance, all of the teams above them lose their next two matches. Qualification, while possible, is out of their hands via the league, however, and focus will inevitably shift to the upcoming Confederations Cup semis against Al Ahli Tripoli.
Current league position: 6 (40 points)
Remaining three fixtures: Maritzburg United (H), Mamelodi Sundowns (A) Cape Town City (H)
Stellenbosch FC's position is remarkably similar to that of Orlando Pirates minus the opportunity to qualify through existing participation in the CAF Confederation Cup. Stellies have been one of the surprise packages in the league this season and have put themselves in a position to sneak aboard a plane to Africa if the teams above them slip up.
That will likely be determined by, or at least on the final day of the season when the club plays host to rivals Cape Town City, but the Cape-based outfit will first have to overcome Maritzburg United and Mamelodi Sundowns to maintain their unlikely pursuit of a first-ever appearance in CAF Competitions
Current league position: 7 (39 points)
Remaining three fixtures: Sekhukhune United (H), Cape Town City (A) Golden Arrows (H)
Having romped to a second-place finish last season, and subsequently reached the group stage of the CAF Champions League this season, AmaZulu's 2021/22 campaign has failed to live up to the lofty standards that were set. The club is currently languishing in the position in the league and hanging on to hopes of returning to the continent by a thread.
If Royal AM and Cape Town City both win just one of their remaining three matches, or Kaizer Chiefs win two of their three, that possibility will all-but end so AmaZulu will have to do their job and hope that they receive unlikely assistance in the final weeks of the season.