Kaizer Chiefs are in a commanding position to claim their first Premier Soccer League championship in five years.
Of course, nothing is guaranteed in the topsy-turvy world of football.
But the multitudes of Amakhosi faithful have christened their 50-year-old club as champions-elect so much so that some among them go to the stadium carrying big, gold-coloured bags emblazoned with the words: "It's in the bag".
It may be premature celebration. Some serious gloss - or floss in the parlance of the millennials - as, if delivered, the Holy Grail will be icing on the year of marking the golden jubilee of the Glamour Boys.
Annexing the league title will spell qualification for the Confederation of African Football Champions League. Those are waters Chiefs haven't sailed since 2016.
Do they have the personnel to compete in the unforgiving dog-eat-dog platform?
Virgin territory is what the competition is for Ernst Middendorp. Which raises the question of navigation. Is the German, who finds conditions in Venda difficult, equipped with the know-how to cope in the extremely challenging continental travails and travels? Say your say, Farouk Khan. After all, you were second-in-command to Muhsin Ertugral who coached Chiefs to Caf Cup Winners' Cup glory 19 years ago.
"We have seen teams win the league one season and the next they are bad and the coach is sacrificed," said Khan.
"He (Middendorp) has his plan spot-on based on the approach he adopts. He wants players to be more direct. It is predictable, but effective in the short term."
Khan opines that Chiefs, in the long run, may encounter a challenge with longevity and continuity when the Champions League comes into play.
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Short-term planning doesn't have longevity.
— Farouk Khan. Former Chiefs second-in-command
"Short-term planning doesn't have longevity. Teams ultimately plan against you and are able to counter your approach. Is there going to be a possibility for them to have continuity to be able to conquer Africa and win the league again?"
Chiefs, said Khan, need to regenerate their team. Amakhosi have handed one-year extensions to the contracts of Willard Katsande, 34, Bernard Parker, 33, and Daniel Cardoso, 31. Goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, who has claimed No 1 spot from Itumeleng Khune, got a two-year deal while a contractual renewal conversation continues with 31-year-old George Maluleka.
"They need to regenerate the team. It is not about signing lots of players, but coming with a plan that is sustainable. You need younger players playing to gain confidence so that when they are called they are ready. Only minutes on the pitch will assist with that. It doesn't have to be accidental and be based on desperation," said Khan.
"The team is loaded with quality that they can have the liberty of letting go of a quality player like [Lorenzo] Gordinho and go and have Ramahlwe 'Mphahlele] on the bench.
"But boys like [Njabulo] Blom should get their time. [Nkosingiphile] Ngcobo would have been a sensation like Jabu Pule. It's a pity he got injured. Both players are 20."
On Chiefs' form in the current campaign, Khan says Amakhosi are now playing a percentage game which has brought them results. "There has been an element of fortune. A lot of it is one of those seasons where things fall your way. They've planned brilliantly to win game to game, impose themselves with physicality in the form of [Leonardo] Castro, [Samir] Nurkovic, [Willard] Katsande and Maluleka.
"Can that be sustainable playing in a philosophy that dictates that amount of energy that you utilise in the game? It is a much more dynamic ball over the top. The age factor can become a huge factor if you are expecting Katsande and company to run non-stop.
"At Sundowns, they don't use as much energy in the game because they keep the ball for longer periods. For them there is a recovery periodisation within the game-model for less energy usage in the game.
"At Chiefs, it is not just about winning, it is about winning in style. It is exactly what Sundowns have done. Even if Pitso [Mosimane] leaves today, their model will be intact. Never should we ever, in our wildest dreams, forget the philosophy and the game model that a team has been built on."
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