PSL Fixture Difficulty: October-November

During the recent October International break, football fans witnessed Bafana Bafana qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they beat Rwanda 2-0 in Mbombela on Tuesday evening. National allegiances aside, we fast forward to domestic league action as the PSL returns this weekend. There will be another international break in a month;s time, but in between that there is a short intense round of fixtures with teams playing 2 – 3 league games before then. We looked at the data to see which teams have the toughest and/or easiest fixtures in the coming month, and some of the most interesting games to come.

Standout game: Sundowns vs Orlando Pirates

The big game in the next three weeks will be theheavyweight clash between Pirates and Sundowns. Pirates are on a PSL record run of 8 consecutive clean sheets, which will be severely tested here. Despite losing their first two games of the season, Pirates have games in hand which could take them to the top of the pile. Sundowns, meanwhile, lead the table despite not playing at their best. Winning this game could make that seat a lot more comfortable while they resolve their new tactical approach.

For the Buccaneers, the challenge doesn’t necessarily lighten after the derby, as they later face a tricky assignment against Arrows, another fixture rated highly difficult. Sundowns have a similarly tough stretch, with an intense final round clash against Galaxy. Both teams, aside from PSL action, also face CAF second round qualification rounds for the Champions League, with any issues severely impacting their momentum heading into the November break. The chart below ranks all teams by difficulty.

An easier schedule for Kaizer Chiefs & others

Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs appear to have a slightly more moderate path compared to their direct rivals, though not without hurdles. They navigate a series of mid-to-high difficulty games against Durban, Siwelele, and Orbit. These fixtures are crucial must-win opportunities for the newly established co-coaches. Losing ground to the top of the log won’t be appreciated, and neither will issues with another subpar result in CAF second round qualifying. Teams like Durban and Stellenbosch also face a tricky run, with Stellenbosch having to contend with Arrows, Galaxy, and Siwelele – a sequence requiring maximum focus to avoid a slide down the table.

The schedule is equally unforgiving for some of the aspiring challengers and mid-table sides. Golden Arrows face one of the most erratic fixture lists, culminating in a highly-rated, maximum difficulty fixture against Orlando Pirates in their third match. For Galaxy, the final round against Sundowns is the stand-out challenge, but their opening fixture against Magesi FC also sits in the mid-high range, offering little respite.

Sekhukhune United: can they sustain their challenge?

Sekhukhune has arguably the most favourable schedule. Their fixtures against Siwelele and Richards Bay are among the lightest rated on the board, offering a golden chance to secure six crucial points and continue their early-season momentum. Similarly, Richards Bay will be eyeing their low-difficulty match against Orbit College as a chance to secure a vital win. Teams like Polokwane City also have relatively manageable matches against Richards Bay and AmaZulu.

This pre-November run is poised to be a pivotal chapter in the PSL season. The sheer number of difficult, high-rated fixtures packed into just a few weeks means that squad depth and rotational strategies will be tested, potentially making this stretch the most defining period of the PSL calendar thus far.