Cape Town - Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac believes the Cheetahs are a good bet to reach the PRO14 playoffs.

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After a slow start which saw them lose their first two games, the men from Bloemfontein rebounded by winning six of their next eight matches, including five wins at home.

The Cheetahs beat the defending champion Scarlets 28-21 in Bloemfontein last weekend and Pivac was impressed by what he saw.

“The Cheetahs showed they’re a very good team at home, while their win percentage away from home is not so good,” Pivac told Netwerk24.

“They would like to improve their consistency throughout the season, but they definitely have a chance to reach the knockout stages. I have high regard for the Cheetahs and know they are a good team.”

The Cheetahs will however want to improve their away record, having so far only triumphed in one out of four matches on the road.

They beat Italian side Zebre 24-23 in Parma in late October.

The Cheetahs are currently enjoying a break in the PRO14, with their next match scheduled against Italian side Benetton in Treviso on January 6.

The Cheetahs are currently third in Conference A with six wins from 10 games.

The top three teams from each conference will qualify for the playoffs.

The two conference winners qualify automatically for the semi-finals, while the second and third placed sides from each conference will contest quarter-final matches.