Polokwane City bagged a second straight win in the Betway Premiership after overcoming Royal AM 1-0 on Wednesday evening.
Rise and Shine missed flying fullback Thabang Matuludi, but the match-winner against Mamelodi Sundowns in Bulelani Nikani featured as the host restored club owner Andile Mpisane.
Well-travelled Sammy Seabi missed a golden chance for the visitors past the ten-minute spell when he guided a corner from Cole Alexander narrowly off target.
Rise and Shine still carved out opportunities in the midway point with Hlayisi Chauke gunning a top corner finish from inside the area, but he wasn't able to trouble Xolani Ngcobo.
Thwihli Thwahla began to probe the high-flying counterparts and saw veteran Thabo Matlaba's snap shot from outside the area flew narrowly wide.
Bafana Bafana star Oswin Appollis were inches to putting Rise and Shine in front with a well-worked free-kick from Cole Alexander, but he didn't test Ngcobo.
With City unchanged from the first spell, the host preferred to haul on Siphesihle Msomi and removed Sibusiso Magaqa who got booked just before halftime.
The chances continued to go either way after the resumption, with Motebang Sera coming close for the host through an assist from Kabelo Mahlasela.
Polokwane thereafter went on to have the lion share of moments where Appollis draw a save off Ngcobo through a close-range shot.
Appollis continued being a vocal point for Rise and Shine and played in Chauke to take aim from the left of the area, but the forward didn't meet the script.
Rise and Shine were rewarded ahead of the final ten minutes as Bonginkosi Dlamini collected a clever ball from the area and fired in the bottom-corner.
The host got a chance to level two minutes to the fulltime after Mahlasela won a penalty following a foul, but Hopewell Cele couldn't beat Manuel Sapunga who parried the resultant spot-kick.
In the end, the visitors from the Limpopo secured victory to go third on the table as Johan Maduka's men dropped out of the top eight.
Confirmed line-ups:
Royal AM: Ngcobo, Matlaba, Jiyane, Zulu, Mahlasela, Magaqa, Mpisane, Shezi, Maxwele, Sera, Thikazi
Polokwane City: Sapunga, Nikani, Nkwe, Alexander, Seabi, Appollis, Maphangule, Makhubela, Dlamini, Nkaki, Chauke