Chiefs have failed in their bids to win any of the four domestic titles on offer this season, and can only hope to finish as high as fourth position with just one league game to go.
Meanwhile, Pirates are at genuine risk of finishing outside of the top half of the table for the first time, and losing their tag as the only team not to have done so in the 21-year existence of the PSL.
Tshabalala, who was unable to inspire the club to a trophy despite a valiant effort in tallying eight goals this season, says the two Soweto giants' passiveness shows a vast improvement in the overall standard of the league.
"In my opinion, we've got a strong league. All 16 teams are very strong – even those fighting relegation are not easy [to beat]," says 'Shabba'.
"All the top teams that have played against the so-called 'small teams', I don't think they collected maximum points out of all those teams – it shows the standard of the league is improving.
"Cape Town City as well – they are, in my opinion, amongst the big boys as well. They are still at the top [third] and have won the Telkom Knockout, and they've had a great season."
While the experienced attacker concedes that other teams have improved, he still feels Amakhosi have it upon themselves to ensure they deliver on their targets each season, and feels personal improvement is imperative next season.
"What matters most is what we want to achieve as Kaizer Chiefs," defends the 32-year-old. "I'm sure all the teams at the beginning of the season plan and have their own objectives, and we need to worry and focus on our own.
"We definitely need to up our game and bring our A-game all the time. We need to be consistent, fight for one another – the team and the coach as well – and we can only show that on the field through commitment and unity.
"This season was not consistent, there were times when we played as a unit and did well but there were times when we also dropped and gave away games, which shouldn't have happened for a team that wants to win the league.
"We showed signs but it was not enough, so we'll regroup and plan again [for next season]."
Chiefs face newly crowned champions Bidvest Wits in their final game of the season at the FNB Stadium this Saturday (15h00).