The men from Bloemfontein are the fourth favourites to win the tournament in what will be their inaugural season.

Only Leinster, Munster and the defending champions, Scarlets, have better odds.

The Cheetahs are tipped at 11/1 along with the Glasgow Warriors, Ospreys and Ulster.

The Southern Kings, who will be joining the Cheetahs in Europe have also received favourable odds at 14/1.

It doesn’t, however, seem very unlikely that the Cheetahs will win the tournament in the upcoming season, and this is simply due to the fact that they have just finished in the Super Rugby and immediately kicking off their Currie Cup title defence on Friday evening.

The Pro14 is scheduled to conclude in May next year, and this will mean that the Cheetahs will have a near 18 months of gruelling rugby behind them.

The Kings aren’t in the Currie Cup Premier League and will only begin their First Division campaign on 26 August against the Boland Cavaliers in Port Elizabeth.

OFM Sport has it that the Kings will be travelling to Ireland towards the end of August already in preparation for their Pro14 campaign.

The expanded Pro12 is set to kick-off on Saturday, 2 September

Betway odds for Pro14 winner - Leinster 15/8, Munster 3/1, Scarlets 11/2, Cheetahs 11/1, Glasgow Warriors 11/1, Ospreys 11/1, Ulster 11/1, Southern Kings 14/1, Cardiff Blues 40/1, Edinburgh 40/1, Dragons 40/1, Connacht 40/1, Treviso 40/1, Zebre 40/1.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport