Cape Town - They may have a traditional bridesmaids tag when it comes to their quest to go all the way to the title but the Stormers look reasonably clear-cut favourites, heading around the bend, to win the local conference in Super Rugby 2015.
If they do, they will become the third different side to claim the local bragging rights in as many seasons, after the Sharks ruled the roost in 2014 and the Bulls were top dogs a year earlier.
Three of the five South African teams have now played eight of their 16 league-phase fixtures, with the Lions and Sharks slightly ahead on nine each and with only seven games to go in their cases.