The final league round of SA Cup will be staged this coming weekend, with four teams still in the running for the final two semi-final spots after Suzuki Griquas secured top spot on the log, while the Airlink Pumas can’t drop out of the top four anymore.

The top four teams on the final log will contest next weekend’s semi-finals – with the teams finishing first and second enjoying home-ground advantage – while the top four will also qualify for the 2026 Carling Currie Cup Premier Division.

The final round kicks off on Friday evening in Bloemfontein, where the Toyota Cheetahs host Suzuki Griquas at Toyota Stadium (18h00).

With just three points separating the third-placed Toyota Cheetahs from the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers (fourth) and the Dotsure SWD Eagles (fifth), this is a must-win encounter for the Free Staters. It will be a daunting task, though, with Griquas having won the last six official meetings between the two sides.

Friday’s second fixture sees defending champion Pumas host the Griffons at Mbombela Stadium from 19h00. The Mpumalanga outfit has lost only two of their eight matches this season and, with home-ground advantage, must be considered favourites to secure hosting rights for the second semi-final next week.

The Pumas currently occupy second place on the log with 33 points – a sizeable 20-point cushion over the Welkom-based Griffons, in eighth.

Attention then shifts to Saturday’s three fixtures, with the clash between the Kavaliers and Eastern Province carrying significant implications. Boland travelled to Gqeberha last year needing a win to secure a top-four finish – and did just that.

This coming Saturday, they find themselves in a similar position, hosting EP in a match where victory, preferably with a bonus point, will see Boland cement their semi-final berth.

The Eagles are level on points with Boland (27) but sit fifth on the log due to an inferior points’ difference. Having claimed five wins from their eight matches so far – compared to the Leopards’ single victory – momentum appears to be firmly with the Eagles, who will be hunting a bonus-point win against their opponents from North West at Outeniqua Park.

The Valke still have a mathematical chance of breaking into the top four, but the East Rand side will need a full five-point victory against Border and must hope that results elsewhere go in their favour. That encounter will kick off at 15h30 at Police Park in East London.

Match information

Toyota Cheetahs vs Suzuki Griquas

Date: Friday, 8 May

Venue: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein

Kick-off: 18h00

Referee: Morne Ferreira

Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby

Airlink Pumas vs Griffons

Date: Friday, 8 May

Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

Kick-off: 19h00

Referee: Paul Mente

Dotsure SWD Eagles vs Leopards

Date: Saturday, 9 May

Venue: Outeniqua Park, George

Kick-off: 15h00

Referee: Juan de Bod

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers vs Eastern Province

Date: Saturday, 9 May

Venue: Boland Stadium, Wellington

Kick-off: 15h00 AJ Jacobs

Referee: AJ Jacobs

Broadcast: SuperSport 951

Border Bulldogs vs Valke

Date: Saturday, 9 May

Venue: Police Park, East London

Kick-off: 15h30

Referee: Caleb Hibbert