Richards Bay could move off the bottom of the standings with all three points at home to SuperSport United on Friday.
The Natal Rich Boyz have endured a torrid 2024/25 Betway Premiership season, winning just one of their nine matches, alongside two draws.
Their last point game in a gutsy goalless draw with Stellenbosch in September and eventually they made the decision to part ways with head coach Brandon Truter following the 2-1 loss to Kaizer Chiefs last week.
Assistant coaches Ronnie Gabriel and Sboniso Gumede presided over a 3-1 defeat to AmaZulu last time out but a win at King Zwelithini Stadium could see the club move as high as 11th.
SuperSport are, meanwhile, in ninth place with nine points from their two wins and three draws.
They have suffered from inconsistency this season, and most recently went down 1-0 to Marumo Gallants, after two goalless draws, with Golden Arrows and Chippa United, and a 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs.
Richards Bay have been forced to play their home game in Durban this season, and chairman Jomo Biyela says this has hindered their cause this season.
He told FARPost: “One has mixed feelings about [our journey so far in the top-flight] because when we formed the team, it was supposed to be for our people in Richards Bay.
“We wanted the team to be an inspiration to our youth of Richards Bay. But unfortunately, since we’re not here, this makes us not achieve the things we wanted when we formed the team.”
SuperSport boss Gavin Hunt, who won three successive league titles with the club between 2008 and 2010, admits he doesn’t have the budget to compete with the top teams.
He said: “It’s very difficult when the exit door [for players is open]; it is what it is. I mean, they [management] explained to me when I came back three years ago that they haven’t been in the top four in the 10 years that I wasn’t here.
“The season before last, we came third on the log, and last season, we finished seventh by one point from fourth to go back in Africa [CAF Interclub competitions] after having to travel like we did, playing all the kids from DStv Diski Challenge – DDC. So we suffered, but hey, give me the chequebook, and I’ll show you how to win the league.”