Cape Town - The Cheetahs and the Kings are likely to know more about their Super Rugby fate on Friday as the SA Rugby general council gets together for a special meeting in Cape Town.
The meeting will seek to determine which South Africa sides will be entered into next year's Super Rugby competition.
The decision has already been taken that South Africa will lose two of its franchises in 2018 as the tournament returns to 15 teams, and the Cheetahs and Kings are the overwhelming favourites to be given the chop.
Over the past few weeks reports have grown stronger that both of those franchises are set to join Europe's Pro 12 competition.
If the Cheetahs and Kings were to take part in the 2017/18 Pro 12, then they would have to move quickly to sort everything out from a logistical perspective.
That tournament begins in September each year, leaving less than three months to put everything together.