Currie Cup: Road to the play-offs
Four teams will be fighting for the remaining two places in the Currie Cup play-offs in the next fortnight.
Only the table-topping Western Province and second-placed Golden Lions teams are already assured of places in the semifinals.
For the Sharks, Pumas, Free State Cheetahs and Blue Bulls the final two rounds of league action will be a mad scramble.
What makes the run-in to the play-offs even more entertaining as that these desperate teams will be playing each other.
WP need one more point to secure a top-two finish, and the home ground advantage in the semifinals that go with it. However, a bonus-point win in one of their remaining matches and a bonus point in the other will virtually guaratee that they finish top of the standings for a second consecutive season – and again have the right to host the Final, should they advance.
The Lions have a much taller order. They need six more points for a top two finish and rely on somebody beating Province if they are to finish first.
The Sharks need four points from the last two rounds to book a spot in the play-offs, while the Pumas, Cheetahs and Blue Bulls have to win their remaining matches or hope some other results go their way.
Griquas are still dreaming of a top six finish, while the Eastern Province Kings are guaranteed last place.
Jan de Koning looks at each team's road to the play-offs!
Western Province
Current position: First
Best possible finish: First
Worst possible finish: Third
Remaining fixtures:
Versus FS Cheetahs, away
Versus Sharks, home
Golden Lions
Current position: Second
Best possible finish: First
Worst possible finish: Third
Remaining fixtures:
Versus Sharks, away
Versus FS Cheetahs, home
Sharks
Current position: Third
Best possible finish: First
Worst possible finish: Fifth
Remaining fixtures:
Versus Golden Lions, home
Versus Western Province, away
Free State Cheetahs
Current position: Fourth
Best possible finish: Third
Worst possible finish: Seventh
Remaining fixtures:
Versus Western Province, home
Versus Golden Lions, away
Pumas
Current position: Fifth
Best possible finish: Third
Worst possible finish: Seventh
Remaining fixtures:
Versus Blue Bulls, home
Versus EP Kings, away
Blue Bulls
Current position: Sixth
Best possible finish: Third
Worst possible finish: Seventh
Remaining fixtures:
Versus Pumas, away
Versus Griquas, home
Griquas
Current position: Seventh
Best possible finish: Fifth
Worst possible finish: Seventh
Remaining fixtures:
Versus EP Kings, home
Versus Blue Bulls, away
Eastern Province Kings
Current position: Eighth
Best possible finish: Eighth
Worst possible finish: Eighth
Remaining fixtures:
Versus Griquas, away
Versus Pumas, home
