This is the business end of the competition, and only four teams remain in the competition. By Tuesday night, one team will be guaranteed a place in the final, while the loser will get another bite of the cherry in Thursday’s second qualifier which will be played in Centurion.

The two teams, who are the top sides in the competition after the group stage, will battle it out on neutral turf at St George's Park, and hence neither will have the advantage.

MI Cape Town have been the most consistent team in the competition, and so were the Royals, but what the team of the Mother City did better, was play well away from home.

Reeza Hendricks. Photo: Cricinfo

While the Royals finished second on the long, the captain David Miller said they are tuned in for the big game, and they see it as a golden opportunity.

“You know, there’s been games where Joe Root didn’t do so well in one or two games and the rest of the guys pulled up for those particular games. So, you know, I don't think it's a problem for us at all not having him.

“It’s not something that we have spoken about and, you know, the guys are really up for whatever comes their way and, it doesn’t get better than a semi-final for the SA20.”

Dayyaan Galiem. Photo: Cricinfo

Miller added that while reaching the final on Tuesday is the first prize, a defeat is not necessarily the end of the road. “Both teams have the opportunity to, whoever loses, will go through to another semi-final,” Miller added.

“It's a great opportunity and they are a phenomenal team – they've really got a lot of match-winners in their team.

“I truly believe in T20 cricket, it’s about really seizing the moment and it takes one or two guys to really stand up and take the game away from the opposition and yeah, that's hopefully going to happen.”

Play between MI Cape Town and the Royals is scheduled to start at 17:30.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg