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The Stormers' excellent form and Cardiff's tough fixtures make it very likely the Capetonians will play in a URC quarter-final in Durban.
Stormers captain Salmaan Moerat and Sharks captain Eben Etzebeth. Pictures: Ashley Vlotman and Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
Welsh outfit Cardiff may currently separate the two South African sides on the United Rugby Championship log, but upcoming fixtures make a Sharks versus Stormers quarter-final in Durban more than just an outside chance.
In the play-offs, the team finishing the season in fourth position will host a quarter-final against the team finishing fifth.
The Sharks are currently fourth with 53 points and, being five points behind the Bulls and seven ahead of Cardiff, the Sharks are not expected to either climb or drop positions on the log after their last games at home against 11th-placed Ospreys and seventh-placed Scarlets.
Cardiff, however, have tough away fixtures in South Africa. Chances are very good they will either drop points when they take on the Bulls at Loftus this weekend or the Stormers in Cape Town next weekend.
Stormers expected to move up
The Stormers are in great form, winning four of their last five matches to climb the table from 12th place to sixth within a month. They are breathing down Cardiff’s neck with just one point separating them.
They take on Dragons this weekend, who have only won one game out of 16 this season, before Cardiff the following week.
While it could all come down to the wire in the Stormers versus Cardiff game next Friday, to see who will play in a quarter-final against the Sharks in Durban at the end of the month, it is easy to picture how the story will unfold if results continue to follow their trajectory.
Sharks would need to improve on poor record against Stormers
A handful of injured Springboks have returned to the fold at the Sharks right in time for the play-offs. Their position on the log makes it more a question of who they will host in their quarter-final, than whether or not they will finish fourth.
The Stormers have won six of their eight URC matches against the Sharks, and the teams have shared the spoils with a draw once.
This season, the Sharks were able to beat the Stormers 21–15 in Durban in November, though the Stormers got the better of the Sharks a month later, winning 24–20 in Cape Town.
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