Road to the play-offs: Mad dash
The race for the remaining three places will result in a mad dash over the next fortnight.
Five teams – Sharks, Blue Bulls, Griquas, Western Province and Golden Lions – are in the running.
It is possible, even likely, that last year's two finalists – the defending champion Golden Lions and Western Province – could fail to make the play-offs.
Not only are they currently outside the top four, but they also have to play teams above them.
The Cheetahs require just two points to secure the top spot on the standings, which brings with it home ground advantage in the semifinals and possible Final.
The Sharks and Blue Bulls – who have just one remaining league game each – along with Griquas, have their destinies in their own hands.
However, they both play away – the Bulls away to the Boland Cavaliers this coming Friday and the Sharks away to the Lions next week.
Those will, effectively, be two 'quarterfinal' encounters.
We look at each of the nine teams' prospects!
Free State Cheetahs
Current position: First
Best possible finish: First
Worst possible finish: Fourth
Remaining fixtures:
v Pumas, away
v Griquas, home
Sharks
Current position: Second
Best possible finish: First
Worst possible finish: Sixth
Remaining fixture:
v Golden Lions, away
Blue Bulls:
Current position: Third
Best possible finish: First
Worst possible finish: Sixth
Remaining fixture:
v Boland Cavaliers, away
Griquas
Current position: Fourth
Best possible finish: Second
Worst possible finish: Seventh
Remaining fixtures:
v Western Province, home
v Free State Cheetahs, away
Western Province
Current position: Fifth
Best possible finish: Second
Worst possible finish: Seventh
Remaining fixtures:
v Griquas, away
v Boland Cavaliers, home
Golden Lions
Current position: Sixth
Best possible finish: Second
Worst possible finish: Seventh
Remaining fixtures:
v Eastern Province Kings, away
v Sharks, home
Boland
Current position: Seventh
Best possible finish: Fifth
Worst possible finish: Ninth
Remaining fixtures:
v Blue Bulls, home
v Western Province, away
Pumas
Current position: Eighth
Best possible finish: Seventh
Worst possible finish: Ninth
Remaining fixtures:
v Free State Cheetahs, home
v Eastern Province Kings, away
Eastern Province
Current position: Ninth
Best possible finish: Seventh
Worst possible finish: Ninth
Remaining fixtures:
v Golden Lions, home
v Pumas, home
By Jan de Koning
@king365ed
@rugby365com
