TIPSTER'S TABLE | Your midweek premiership predictions and odds: Mamelodi Sundowns surge, Kaizer Chiefs under pressure

The Premiership enters a crucial midweek round with fixtures spread across Tuesday and Wednesday, as teams jostle for form and momentum.

Richards Bay, Sekhukhune United and Mamelodi Sundowns will look to build on recent strong performances, while Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch face mounting pressure to turn their seasons around. With several evenly matched encounters on the card, points and confidence will be hard fought.

TUESDAY

Siwelele FC vs Orlando Pirates @ Free State Stadium, 7.30pm

Embattled newcomers Siwelele FC are battling to come to grips with life in the Premiership, and this has had a direct influence on the club's performance, which stands at one win after seven games this season. Revelations about the team's enforced road travels would have affected the players.

Siwelele FC will not be at their best for Tuesday's Premiership clash against Pirates in Bloemfontein. Pirates are in excellent form, and they played at the same venue last Saturday, when they won 3-0 in a CAF game. This outing would have served as a dress rehearsal for Pirates, who may rest their key players ahead of the return CAF clash in Orlando this weekend.

Prediction: Siwelele FC 0 Orlando Pirates 3

Betting odds: Siwelele FC 5.6 | Draw 3.45 | Orlando Pirates 1.67

WEDNESDAY

Golden Arrows vs Mamelodi Sundowns @ Princess Magogo Stadium, 3pm

Sundowns look set to continue their charge to the top of the Premiership table with a winnable fixture against Arrows on Wednesday at the Princess Magogo Stadium, Durban. There were signs that Sundowns are returning to their best form after scoring a come-from-behind 3-1 victory over Durban City on Saturday.

After a shaky start to the season, several players are showing signs of their best form, and that is bad news for the struggling Arrows team, led by coach Manqoba Mngqithi. As a former Sundowns coach, Mngqithi will know what to expect, but all he can do is try to restrict the damage the opposition are capable of. Arrows seem to have a good plan in place, but then they suffer lapses of concentration at the death. They have now suffered three league defeats on the trot.

Prediction: Golden Arrows FC 0 Mamelodi Sundowns 3

Betting odds: Golden Arrows 12.00 | Draw 4.80 | Mamelodi Sundowns 1.29

Kaizer Chiefs vs Marumo Gallants @ FNB Stadium, 5.30pm 

Beleaguered Chiefs have lost their coach and their last match over the weekend in Angola. On Wednesday, they will enjoy the comforts of a home fixture against Marumo Gallants.

The 27-year-old Gallants coach Alexandre Lafitte has worked well with his squad, and they have three draws in a row, including one against Sundowns last week. Gallants also defeated Pirates earlier this season and will look to repeat this feat against Chiefs.

Under the watchful eyes of stand-in coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze, Chiefs will look to return to winning ways. In their last league outing, they were thumped 3-1 by Sekhukhune United, so Chiefs will be desperate for a good result, which will be a morale booster for their CAF clash over the weekend.

Prediction: Kaizer Chiefs FC 1 Marumo Gallants 1

Betting odds: Kaizer Chiefs 1.83 | Draw 3.30 | Marumo Gallants 4.60

Richards Bay FC vs Magesi FC @ Richards Bay Stadium, 7.30pm

The KwaZulu-Natal outfit are fresh off an impressive 1-0 win against Stellenbosch FC away at the Danie Craven Stadium this past weekend, and after having a shaky start to their campaign, that result could serve as the springboard to get them back into the rhythm they have been longing for.

They welcome a Magesi outfit that are also flying high on the back of their first win of the season, a 2-0 victory against Siwelele FC. The KZN outfit will be strong at home, and they are well placed to carry on their positive run of form.

Prediction: Richards Bay FC to win 1-0

Betting odds: Richards Bay FC win 1.4 | Draw 1.95 | Magesi FC 2.3

Sekhukhune United vs Chippa United @ New Peter Mokaba Stadium, 7.30pm

The Chilli Boys have been on a path to recovering from their slow start to the season, and the introduction of Belgian mentor Luc Eymael so far appears to be doing the trick. However, they face a mountain to climb as they meet table-topping Sekhukhune United, who are on an impressive run of form and have won every league encounter they have played at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Babina Noko head into the match in far better rhythm and, pound for pound, with the stronger squad on paper. They should be well placed to carry on their powerful start to the season.

Prediction: Sekhukhune United to win 2-0

Betting odds: Sekhukhune United 0.65 | Draw 2.4 | Chippa United win 5.0

Stellenbosch FC vs Durban City @ Danie Craven Stadium, 7.30pm

Stellies are enduring a nightmare start to their league season, currently sitting in 13th position with just four points to their name. Their latest 1-0 loss to Richards Bay FC has been a harsh reality check, and perhaps their continuous spree of letting players go is beginning to catch up with them.

Durban City, on the other hand, will visit the Danie Craven Stadium on the back of a 3-1 defeat against Mamelodi Sundowns. Despite that setback, they carry plenty of confidence from a positive start to their campaign, which has seen them collect 11 points from their opening seven matches.

Prediction: Stellenbosch to win 1-0

Betting odds: Stellenbosch FC win 0.85 | Draw 2.2 | Durban City win 4.0

TS Galaxy vs AmaZulu @ Mbombela Stadium, 7.30pm TS Galaxy will host AmaZulu at the Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday (7:30 pm kickoff). This promises to be a tightly contested match between the league’s sixth- and seventh-placed sides, separated by just one point. Both teams had their previous fixtures postponed due to their opponents’ continental commitments, and with both sides coming into this clash fresh and re-energised, fine margins could decide the outcome.

The Rockets claimed a 1-0 victory the last time these teams met in Mpumalanga, and as they aim to continue their recovery from a slow start to the season—hampered earlier by their FIFA ban—they will be a difficult side to overcome.

Prediction: TS Galaxy to win 2-0

Betting odds: TS Galaxy win 1.2 | Draw 2.1 | AmaZulu win 2.6

Orbit College FC vs Polokwane City @ Olympia Park, 7.30pm

Orbit College will host Polokwane City on Wednesday at Olympia Park, Rustenburg. Polokwane have been in tremendous form and are unbeaten in their last five outings (w.w.d.d.w) and are in a lofty fourth place on the log.

Orbit have had a dreadful run, with one win and a draw after seven games. Last weekend, Orbit showed some improvement in the 1-all draw against Gallants. Monnapule Saleng was in excellent form for Orbit on Saturday, and if he continues in this vein, he will pose a threat to Polokwane.

Prediction: Orbit College FC 1 Polokwane City 1

Betting odds: Orbit College FC 1.95 | Draw 2.0 | Polokwane City 1.55