Hamilton’s could take a big step towards qualifying for the 2014 Cell C Community Cup when they host Durbanville-Bellville in a top-of-the-table Western Province Super League A clash in Green Point on Saturday (kick-off 16h00).

With seven rounds remaining of one of the country’s toughest provincial premier leagues, Durb-Bell (44 points) and Hamiltons (41) are currently one and two on the 10-team log, followed by Maties (39) and UCT (36) – both of whom have played two matches fewer than their open club rivals.

While all four sides are in the mix for Grand Challenge league honours, Durb-Bell and Hamiltons are also locked in a separate, two-horse race to see which of the two sides represent WP at the 2014 Community Cup.

Given that they finished a creditable fifth in the inaugural Community Cup and that they are current log leaders, Durb-Bell may be viewed as favourites, but in Hamilton’s favour is home-ground advantage and the confidence of having beaten Durb-Bell 48-13 away in their first-round encounter in May.

Whichever of the two sides eventually qualify automatically, they will be joined by six other teams who have already booked their places – Roodepoort (Golden Lions), Sishen (Griquas), GAP Despatch (as defending champions), Bloemfontein Crusaders (Free State) and newcomers Centurion (Blue Bulls).

Brakpan, who finished third in the 2013 Community Cup, beat Boksburg 49-26 in last weekend’s Valke Peregrine Super League final to become the sixth team to qualify.

The East Rand outfit, arguably the form open club team in South Africa at present, will face their toughest match of the domestic season so far when they host Varsity Cup champions Tuks in a highly-anticipated clash at the Bosman Stadium on Saturday in the first round of the new cross-border Predator League.

The Predator League is divided into a Cup and Plate section and features the top 24 clubs from the Leopards, Golden Lions, Valke and Blue Bulls, including four Varsity Cup sides (Wits, UJ, Pukke, Tuks) and six Community Cup teams in Brakpan, Roodepoort, Pretoria Police, Centurion, Raiders and Rustenburg Impala.

Elsewhere around the country, Community Cup champions Despatch suffered a shock 27-23 defeat to Gardens in the Eastern Province Grand Challenge to ensure the final rounds will be a nail-biting affair, with a number of teams still in the running for league honours and the all-important Community Cup qualifying slot.

Heading into the final straight, Despatch still lead the standings with 45 points from 11 of their 15 matches, with surprise package Spring Rose one point behind in second place, followed by NMMU (40), Gardens (38), Crusaders (35) and Progress (33). The Madibaz have played two matches fewer than their five open club rivals, thereby giving them a slight edge in the race for Grand Challenge honours, all of which makes for an exciting conclusion to what has been the most competitive competition in many years.

Community Cup runners-up College Rovers will book their place in next year’s tournament and win their eighth straight KZN Moor Cup title this weekend if they pick up three points away against fourth-placed Varsity College, while second-placed Durban Collegians will keep their slim title hopes alive with a big home victory over fifth-placed UKZN Impi.

Should Rovers lose and Collegians win, the scene will be set for a titanic struggle at the Kings Park fields next Saturday when the two sides clash in a top-of-the-table final-round encounter, with Collegians’ postponed match in hand against lowly Zululand Rhinos possibly assuming great importance should they manage to topple the seven-time champions away from home.

And, finally, in the Mpumalanga Buscor League, Witbank Ferro’s, who cannot be caught at the top of the table, will host Nelspruit in one semi-final next weekend, while third-placed Malelane (41 points) are at home to second-placed Middelburg (45 points) in the final round, in a match that will determine which of the two sides have home-ground advantage for their semi.

2013 WP Super League A fixtures, Saturday (Week 16 of 24):
Hamilton’s v Durbanville-Bellville

Bellville v Tygerberg