The Proteas are set for a two-match sprint to the finish in the Cricket World Cup Super League and might still have their fate in their own hands.
By the time the first of the two ODIs against the Netherlands gets underway, the Proteas will be aware of two results in the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka series.
Sri Lanka need to win at least two of the three ODIs against the Black Caps to move past the West Indies and into eighth spot.
If Sri Lanka wins all three matches then the Proteas will be ruled out of contention for direct qualification.
The final match of that series is set to conclude just before South Africa face the Netherlands at Willowmoore Park on 31 March.
South Africa cannot afford to be complacent against the Dutch, especially against the backdrop of their incredible loss to them at the T20 World Cup.
Young fast bowler Brandon Glover was one of the heroes for the Dutch but he has since had very few opportunities as he awaits the restart of the county cricket season.
Glover is one of a number of Dutch players who have experience of playing in South Africa.
Colin Ackermann is also an incredibly dangerous player in the white-ball formats although they might miss the retired Roelof van der Merwe who knows South African venues well.
The Dutch haven’t been able to commit themselves fully to the tour as their head coach Ryan Cook has signed up for a stint as a fielding coach for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.
Instead, the Netherlands will be directed by interim coach Ryan van Niekerk for both the trip to South Africa and the later Cricket World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe.
Experienced allrounder Bas de Leede has also missed out on the trip with an injury.
Whoever arrives and however they play, the Proteas have to get a pair of victories to avoid the disaster that missing the World Cup would constitute.
