As the season negotiates the second half terrain, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns will feel the draining challenge of their success.
Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso pointed out the load after playing their fourth game in 10 days on Tuesday.
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The Brazilians played Golden Arrows (February 2), SuperSport United (Feb 5), Orlando Pirates (Feb 8), and then travelled to TS Galaxy (Feb 11).
That is the freshness challenge awaiting fellow title hopefuls Pirates, who have Jose Riveiro experiencing this tight schedule for the first time at the club.
From when they play their next match on Saturday, the Soweto giants will have 13 weeks to play what could build up to 26 matches if they reach both finals of the Nedbank Cup and CAF Champions League like they want to.
Bucs have 16 matches left to play in the Betway Premiership, plus at least one in the Nedbank Cup, which will be against Baroka FC in the Last 16 on Saturday.
For a successful defence of their Nedbank Cup, they will have to play another four.
Then, after securing their passage to the CAF Champions League quarterfinals, it will mean at least two matches with the continent's premier club competition fixtures played on a home and away basis.
Should they reach the final to be played on May 24 and June 1, then it will be a total of six games in the Champions League to come with long distance travel to North Africa.
March 17-25 is a FIFA calendar date, just like June 2-10, with Mamelodi Sundowns then involved at the FIFA Club World Cup due to run from June 14 – July 13.
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The Chloorkop-based side will play at least three games in Group F against Ulsan UD (South Korea) on June 17 in Orlando, then face Borussia Dortmund (Germany) in Cincinnati four days later, before closing off the group against Fluminense (Brazil) on June 25 in Miami Gardens.
Before that, Sundowns must still play 14 in the league, between two and six in the Champions League, up to four in the Nedbank Cup from Sunday until June 1 minus the March FIFA dates.