The result of the match between Black Leopards and African Warriors at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday will determine whether Black Leopards will take part in the promotional playoffs or not.

While African Warriors have only pride at stake in the match, it is a matter of life and death for Lidoda Duvha. Anything less than a victory will not be good enough for Black Leopards to quality for the promotional play-offs, which are scheduled to kick off next weekend.

According to the Leopards head coach, Mr Zeca Marques, all his players, including Marks Munyai, will be available for selection on Sunday.  Munyai was out of action for four weeks due to injury. Asked about the status of the players’ health, Mr Marques said that all of them had a clean bill of health. Leopards are currently lying in the third position on the log with 48 points.

Lamontville Golden Arrows, who were declared the league champions after playing to a 1-1 draw with Cape Town All Stars last Sunday, gained automatic promotion to the premiership division. Teams that will finish their league programme in the second and third place, together with the second-last team in the Absa Premiership, will try their luck in the promotional playoffs.

The promotional play-off matches will take a round-robin format and the top team at the end of the tournament will also be promoted to the elite division. It remains to be seen whether the strikers of Warriors will be able to penetrate the Leopards defence, which will be marshalled by Tshivhavhudzi Ndou and Dunga Munganga.

The other NFD matches that will also be played on Sunday are: Thanda Royal Zulu vs Garankuwa United, Vasco da Gama vs Santos, Maluti FET College vs Baroka FC, Milano United vs FC Cape Town, Royal Eagles vs Witbank Spurs, Cape Town All Stars vs Jomo Cosmos and Highlandspark vs Lamontville Golden Arrows.