It is the last chance saloon that this pair are drinking at on Wednesday as they bid for a place in the second qualifier match.
A shot at the IPL final awaits the winner and the loser will be left to ponder what might have been.
Super Giants vs Royal Challengers | Wednesday 25 May | Eden Gardens | 16:00
To Win Match
Super Giants 82/100 | Tie 25/1 | Royal Challengers 21/20
Lucknow Super Giants
While these teams finished adjacent to one another on the table their path to this match has been very different.
LSG were among the early pace-setters and despite falling off towards the back-end they never looked like missing out on the playoffs.
They have built their efforts around the superb batting of skipper KL Rahul who has also done his future India captaincy claims no harm with a great season at the helm of the new franchise.
Rahul’s efforts have been helped by a big effort in the latter part of the season by Quinton de Kock, with the Proteas batter also passing 500 runs this season.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
The Royal Challengers Bangalore needed a late favour from the Mumbai Indians to secure their place in the knockouts but they have enjoyed an uptick in form in recent weeks.
Crucially Virat Kohli came good with the bat just when RCB needed him the most in their final round-robin phase match.
Faf du Plessis has led the side well but small lapses have wound up costing RCB dearly and they need to sharpen up if they are to finally lift the trophy.
The value of Wanindu Hasaranga cannot be understated and RCB are lucky that the SLC have allowed him to stay on with the franchise.
Verdict: Lucknow Super Giants 82/100
Back the Super Giants to live up to their favourites billing here.
