Relegation or the merger of two teams appear the only options as the South African Rugby Union again met with its Super 15 sides on Thursday about the problem of having six contenders for five places next year.
SARU held talks in Johannesburg with representatives of the five teams currently in the Super 15 and the Southern Kings, and although the governing body is seeking to ensure no team would be "damaged" by a solution, it's doubtful that can happen.
The sticking point would appear to be Super 15 organizer SANZAR's insistance that it is not in a position to expand the tournament to 16 teams before the end of the 2015 season.
That means something will have to give to make way for the Port Elizabeth-based Kings, who have been guaranteed a place in 2013 by SARU.
SARU said the South African parties would meet again on Monday,
while a final outcome is only expected after a meeting of the national union's decision-making General Council on July 13.
