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Johannesburg - Winning will not be the only objective of the semifinals, players will also have a last chance to impress the Springbok selectors.
Odds are that on the day of the final, Springbok coach Peter de Villiers will already know who will be on the Springbok's first Grand Slam tour in 50 years to England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland at the beginning of next month.
The semifinals will provide the perfect platform to wipe out any doubts the selectors may still have about any of the contenders in his little black book.
This is good news for the fans, who can expect nothing less than the traditional toughness with which the Currie Cup is played.
In the semifinal between the Sharks and Blue Bulls in Durban, the home side will be put to the test against some of the most experienced hands in the business.
Bulls' coach Frans Ludeke made it clear this week that the brand of rugby his team plays is tailor-made for knock-out matches, as is backed up by his men's proud record in the domestic competition.
The Bulls will be pleased at the increase in their player depth, with many of their players showing great improvement in their second season of Currie Cup rugby.
However, the Pretoria-based squad has not lived up to the high standards it set earlier this year in the Super 14.
Injuries and disruptions caused by numerous call-ups to the national squad influenced the Bulls’ less convincing performances, but cannot be the only reason for the defending champions' struggle to get the better of Griquas, the Leopards and the Pumas at Loftus Versfeld.
In contrast, the Sharks enjoyed a near perfect run-in to Saturday’s decider.
Even when their Springboks were away, players like Craig Burden, Patrick Lambie, Charl McLeod and Willem Alberts steadied the ship with outstanding individual performances.
Having experienced men in skipper Stefan Terblanche and Jacques Botes was just as crucial as ensuring youngsters like Lambie and wing Lwazi Mvovo kept their cool.
On Saturday, the road to the final will be irrelevant and the same can be said about form leading into the match.
As is the case in derbies between all top sides, there will be a lot of mouth-watering match-ups.
The one between Springbok hookers Chiliboy Ralepelle and Bismarck du Plessis should take centre stage in Durban.
In Cape Town, where Western Province host the Cheetahs, the showdown will be between Duane Vermeulen and fellow eighthman Ashley Johnson.
Both players have had central roles in their teams' success this year and both are in contention for a national call-up.
When all is said and done, the outcome of this semifinal is likely to rest on the shoulders of men whose chances of going on tour are not the best.
Nerves of steel will be required by flyhalves Willem de Waal and Louis Strydom, who carry with them the responsibility of converting tries and penalties.
