As was the case in 2022, the Cheetahs will enjoy the home ground advantage as they finished the round-robin stage of the Currie Cup at the top of the log. However, this time the team will look to go at least one step further. Last year the Cheetahs were denied a spot in the final thanks to a last minute try by the Pumas centre, Ali Mgijima. The try handed the Pumas a 38-35 win and they went on to win the Currie Cup for the first time by beating the Griquas 26-19 in the historic final played in Kimberley.

Last week the Cheetahs had to face the Bulls in Pretoria in the final round of matches before the playoffs, and they managed to return to Bloemfontein with a hard-fought 31-27 win in the bank after fighting back from 19-0 down after just 15 minutes.

The Cheetahs didn’t have the seasoned Springbok Ruan Pienaar available after the player withdrew from the team on Thursday night due to a family bereavement. The 39-year-old will however be back for the semi-finals, but the Cheetahs are yet to decide if he will play scrumhalf or flyhalf.

The Cheetahs coach, Hawies Fourie, told Bloemfontein Courant that he and the team respected Pienaar’s decision last week, but they are glad to have the key player back.

“We can select him at nine or ten and we will make that decision,” says  Fourie,

“He will definitely be back in the team - he had to spend time with family, look after his children, his wife and everyone else. We respected that and it was the best decision for the team as well.  I think it was mature of Ruan to make the call on Thursday by saying that it's better for Siya Masuku to know early that he will be playing while Zinedine Booysen came onto the bench.

“I have a lot of respect for him and it's good to have him back for the semi-final.”

While the Cheetahs have renewed confidence going into the knockout match, they know the Bulls come back at them hard in an attempt to exact revenge for last week. The Cheetahs have battled with slow starts throughout their campaign and this is something they want to get right for the crunch game.

Fourie says that it will be very important to dictate the proceedings against the team which will be loaded with Springboks, while he also asked for the Cheetahs faithful to play their part.

“It will be very important - the team that will dictate the tempo of the game will have the best chance to win it.

“We can't afford another slow start. We've spoken about it and we have put some things in place to get the mindset ready and fire from the start.

“I feel that if we have a packed Toyota Stadium and with the support behind us then there won't be a slow start.”

Fourie will name his team for the semi-final on Friday and it is almost a given that there will be minimal changes as they will opt for continuity.

Saturday’s big final against the Bulls at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 15:00. At 17:30 the Sharks will host the defending champions, the Pumas at the Kings’ Park in Durban in the second semi-final.

Morgan Piek