SA derbies crucial in determining URC qualification for Bulls, Lions, Stormers, Sharks

South African teams enter the United Rugby Championship (URC) hiatus for the February Six Nations tournament with the Stormers and Bulls in the top eight, while the Sharks and Lions are knocking on the door of play-off territory.

There had been a chance of all four SA sides entering the three-week break in the comforting play-off zone, but results in Europe conspired to leave the Sharks in ninth place with seven rounds to go. This comes despite their double victories against the Stormers.

Meanwhile, the Lions have slipped to 10th after a shock home defeat to the Bulls.

Encouragingly for the Lions, they have a soothing stretch of six consecutive home games in which to recover from their mauling by the Bulls and aim for a first-ever play-off appearance.

One would back the Lions to get back on the horse, but the problem is their next fixture: a clash against the recovering Sharks on February 21. The Sharks are proving to be masters of the SA derbies and leaders of the SA Shield, with wins against the Bulls and Stormers (twice), although they did drop a home game against the Lions earlier in the campaign.

The Lions will back themselves to complete the double over the Sharks, while Durban fans are wondering how long the honeymoon under new coach JP Pietersen will last.

It is all well and good for the Sharks to lift themselves to "Test-match intensity" against the Stormers, as captain André Esterhuizen described it, but can they put the champagne away and maintain that momentum?

The Stormers, chastened by their double defeat to the Sharks, return to action against the Lions at Ellis Park on February 28. The following week, they visit the Bulls for the return leg of the North-South derby.

The Bulls will be licking their lips for that encounter after a narrow loss in Cape Town. If the Stormers arrive in Pretoria having lost to the Lions the week before, they could find themselves dropping out of the vital top four, which guarantees home play-offs.

Conversely, the Bulls are handily placed for the second half of the URC. Having completed several difficult away fixtures, they now enjoy a home run against the Sharks (28 February), the Stormers, Cardiff, and Munster.

The Bulls end their campaign in Wales against the Dragons and Scarlets; with the Welsh sides fighting for survival, the Bulls will want to have banked maximum points at home before heading north.

REMAINING URC SA FRANCHISE FIXTURES

BULLS

February

28: v Sharks (H)

March

14: v Stormers (H)

20: v Cardiff Rugby (H)

28: v Munster (H)

April

17: v Dragons (A)

25: v Scarlets (A)

May

9: v Zebre (H)

16: v Benetton (H)

LIONS

February

21: v Sharks (H)

28: v Stormers (H)

March

21: v Edinburgh (H)

28: v Dragons (H)

April

18: v Glasgow Warriors (H)

25: v Connacht (H)

May

9: v Leinster (A)

16: v Munster (A)

SHARKS

February

21: v Lions (A)

28: v Bulls (A)

March

21: v Munster (H)

27: v Cardiff Rugby (H)

April

18: v Ospreys (A)

24: v Edinburgh (A)

May

9: v Benetton (H)

16: v Zebre (H)

STORMERS

February

28: v Lions (A)

March

14: v Bulls (A)

22: v Dragons (H)

28: v Edinburgh (H)

April

18: v Connacht (H)

25: v Glasgow Warriors (H)

May

8: v Ulster (A)

15: v Cardiff Rugby (A)