The Cheetahs, as they were expected to, made sure of finishing in top spot on the final log with their comfortable win over the Pumas at the weekend, and the only other team that is assured of a place in the play-offs is the Blue Bulls.
However, Western Province, after their impressive away win over Griquas, can feel reasonably certain of being there, as they host the Boland Cavaliers in their final league game and just need to win to go through.
The remaining participant in the semi-final phase will depend on the big clash between the champion Golden Lions and the Cell C Sharks in Johannesburg on Friday evening. If the Sharks win with a bonus point they can displace the Bulls in second place and thus host a home semi-final on 15 October, but a Lions win will knock the Durbanites out of the top four.
Unless something bizarre and unexpected happens in the Cape derby between WP and Boland on Friday, the best that the Lions can do is finish fourth, which would mean they’d have to travel to Bloemfontein to play the Cheetahs in their play-off game.
Last year the Lions hosted the Cheetahs in their semifinal en route to annexing the trophy for the first time since 2011, and the prospect of a Cheetahs/Lions showdown is an appetising one given how good and how close the recent league clash between the sides at the same venue was.
Unless the Sharks win in Johannesburg, WP look set to finish third, which will mean they travel to Loftus for a repeat of last year’s semifinal, which Province won to clinch a place in the decider against the Lions.
Griquas’ challenge for a play-off place effectively ended when WP outplayed them in Kimberley this past Friday night.
Although theoretically they can still get to 25 points, the same number as the third placed Sharks currently have to their name, that won’t be enough for semi-final qualification unless both the Lions and WP lose in the final round.
