Mamelodi Sundowns have left the PSL with concern about how to complete their domestic season, as the Brazilians chase the CAF Champions League title, seventh consecutive league title and the Nedbank Cup.
With the mid-week fixtures postponed due to Bafana Bafana's successful AFCON campaign and the fact that they only arrive back on Wednesday morning, it means another matchday has been left hanging for Sundowns.
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Sundowns had 10 players in the squad that finished third with Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena, and Aubrey Modiba playing every minute.
Downs also had Khuliso Mudau, Mothobi Mvala, Grant Kekana, Themba Zwane, Thapelo Morena, Terrence Mashego, and Thapelo Maseko all getting minutes.
With focus back on club football, Sundowns (who have already done 30 games) might have to play up to 29 games in under 14 weeks and put up with long distance travels through that schedule.
For the prime target that they are chasing, which is the CAF Champions League, Sundowns could play as many as eight games if they reach the final.
There are two group matches remaining which include the long trip to Nouakchott where they have a date with Mauritania champions FC Nouadhibou on February 24 before they host TP Mazembe on March 1.
If they progress to the two-legged quarter-finals, then those matches will be played on March 29-30 and April 5-6 while the semi-finals dates are April 19-20 and April 26-27.
The final is pencilled in for May 19 and May 26.
Champions league dates override all domestic matches.
Then with the only remaining domestic knockout competition (Nedbank Cup), it will be five games to play provided they also reach the final.
The Brazilians will take the short trip to Dobsonville to face La Masia on February 20 in the last 32.
In the DStv Premiership, Sundowns will have another 16 games.
The issue at hand is that the DStv Premiership is set to end on May 25, 2024, which clashes with the Champions league second leg date.
Further trouble is that the following Saturday (June 1) is slotted in for the Nedbank Cup final straight after which it becomes the FIFA calendar week (June 3-11).
March 18-26 is also a FIFA calendar week during which Bafana will play Andorra and Algeria away meaning long flights back for Sundowns players who will again have large numbers in the squad.
Sundowns' fixture demand and travels have meant they have already done 60 000km with trips to Lubumbashi, Casablanca, Cairo (twice), Luanda, and Dar es Salaam.
Locally, the Brazilians have been to Durban thrice, Polokwane twice, Johannesburg south twice, Gqeberha, Mbombela, and Cape Town.
Their players in the Bafana squad spent the past month travelling from Johannesburg to Stellenbosch then back to Johannesburg before proceeding to Cote d'Ivoire where they played in Abidjan, Bouake, Yamoussoukro, San Pedro, and Korhogo which added further mileage.
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Should Sundowns reach the finals of both the Nedbank Cup and Champions League then the PSL will have a headache considering the order of travels in between fixtures on the continent.
League games against SuperSport United, Richards Bay, Cape Town Spurs, Stellenbosch, Cape Town City, and in the further stages of the Nedbank Cup are all at risk.