Milford head coach Xanti Pupuma insists they can cope with the pressure of knowing that another win against Cape Town City at the Richards Bay Stadium on Saturday will take them to the brink of a historic promotion.
Kick-off is at 5.30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2). CURRENT FORM
The Stallions top the table in the promotion/relegation playoffs at the halfway stage after picking up maximum points from their opening two matches, having beaten both the Citizens (1-0) and Magesi (1-0).
Pupuma's side finished behind City in the Motsepe Foundation Championship on goal difference after the two teams accrued 54 points each, but they've yet to lose to the Mother City outfit.
Milford also ran out 1-0 victors over City in their first-ever clash on 27 September 2025 before playing out to a 2-2 draw at Athlone Stadium on 10 March.
The KZN club already showed they can compete at the highest level after reaching the Nedbank Cup semifinals, where they lost to TS Galaxy on penalties, having eliminated Sekhukhune United in a shootout in the quarterfinals.
It is do or die for the Citizens, who are bidding to gain promotion at the first attempt following their relegation from the Betway Premiership in 2024-25.
Jan Vreman's side have no points to show for their efforts in the playoffs, although they can count themselves unlucky after two poor refereeing decisions cost them against Dikwena tsa Meetse on 30 May.
Edmore Chirambadare should have been sent off for a reckless high tackle on Dhakier Lee after just eight minutes before Magesi were awarded a controversial penalty which was converted by Mcedi Vandala on 34 minutes to put the visitors on the back foot at the Seshego Stadium.
However, Vreman believes the disappointment they experienced in Limpopo can serve as motivation to turn City's fortunes around in their final two games.
WHAT WAS SAID:
Milford head coach Xanti Pupuma
"Where we are and the kind of expectations that we have created in the team with the Nedbank [Cup] run and how we finished last season, we kind of put pressure on ourselves.
"People expect us to perform, so we are used to pressure, and hopefully the boys can get better. We will sit down and talk about it. We know what we need. I think it's too close now to let it go.
Cape Town City head coach Jan Vreman
"Of course [we can turn our fortunes around], but when you're expecting that you can have the result here then you are very disappointed, and that showed with us. "I think it's also good, you have to be disappointed, so now we have a couple of days to pick it up and try again."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Milford - Siphosethu Ndlabi scored the all-important goal against City from the penalty spot in their first playoff encounter to take his tally for the campaign to four in all competitions.
The striker's only contribution in the league came in 3-0 victory over Mkhambathi, although he played a vital part in their Nedbank Cup run with two goals, including against the Rockets in the last four.
Cape Town City - Jaedin Rhodes enjoyed a fine season, bagging seven goals in the league to finish one behind the club's top scorer, Therlo Moosa.
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder, who can also play on the wing, proved a handful for the Stallions two months ago, scoring the equaliser with a cracker from long range which ended up being crucial in the race for promotion.
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
Matches - 3
Milford wins - 2
CT City wins - 0
Draws - 1