High-veldt invincibles, the Bulls, are favourites to repeat their 2007 triumph by booking a home path to another Super 14 title success.

The Bulls have set themselves up for a second championship in three seasons after a tense final-round 27-26 victory over their arch-rivals, the Sharks, in Durban.

The thrilling win gave the Pretoria-based outfit the minor premiership and a home semi-final against 2008 champions the Crusaders at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

If they can repeat their 2007 semi-final success (27-12) over the Crusaders, the Bulls will host the winners of Friday night's all New Zealand play-off between the Chiefs and Hurricanes in Hamilton.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, former Test coach Eddie Jones and Queensland coach Phil Mooney have all tipped the Bulls as favourites due to their home ground advantage.

Not only are Victor Matfield's men unbeaten in South Africa this season and are particularly intimidating at their Pretoria fortress, the travel involved for their respective New Zealand rivals is a massive challenge to overcome.

Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper is one man who believes the Bulls are beatable and rates his team in prime shape to go all the way.

The Wellington side stormed into their fifth finals series in seven seasons with a 37-28 last-round win over Queensland in Brisbane in a match Cooper believed was a perfect warm-up.

The Hurricanes came through unscathed and were forced to dig deep in defence in the second half as the injury-riddled Reds gallantly fought back.

Cooper rated the play-off series as the most open of recent seasons and believed his maturing and dangerous side were ready to go one better than 2006 when they lost the final to the Crusaders.

Their semi-final rivals, the Chiefs, have been hit by injury ahead of their clash at Waikato Stadium with influential halfback Brendon Leonard (hamstring) ruled out and fellow All Blacks back Richard Kahui (calf) in doubt.

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