The Bulls need a win against the team from the Free State in order to reach the playoffs, but they are playing for just one of two spots available.

The Cheetahs have already ensured that they will have a home semi-final next week, and they will target a win to give themselves a chance of a possible home final.

There are only two spots up for grabs in the semi-finals, but the Bulls as well as the Pumas, Griquas and Western Province are all still in for a shout.

The Bulls defence coach, Sean Everitt, stressed the importance of good discipline against the Cheetahs on the weekend.

“We found out against them in Bloemfontein that if you give away penalties and you're ill-disciplined, they will punish you,” said Everitt.

“On Saturday against the Pumas, all four tries scored by them were from line-outs. It's going to be important to be disciplined in our performance so that we don't have to stop maul after maul after maul. It's what they're really good at.”

The former Sharks coach Everitt added that they have give themselves a good chance of reaching the playoffs and he ball in now in their hands.

“If we can get a full house of points on Saturday against the Cheetahs, who knows what can happen because you're in the play-offs.

“No one would've given us a chance after the first four rounds because we were winless. But we knew if we could gather a certain number of points in the last five games, we would have an opportunity in the last round. That's exactly how it stands at the moment.”

Saturday’s game at Loftus Versfeld kicks off at 15:00.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport