Western Province coach Allister Coetzee described his team's 25-27 loss to the Golden Lions at the weekend as a "timely wake-up call" and a "nice kick under the butt".

The defeat in Johannesburg means Province dropped down to second place on the standings, behind the table-topping Sharks, and will face the Blue Bulls in Cape Town on Saturday in one semifinal.

The Sharks host the Free State Cheetahs in the other play-off match in Durban.

Coetzee said the defeat at the hands of the Lions, in a game in which both teams scored three tries but Province failed to get the win or the extra bonus-point try, was a timely wake-up call ahead of the semis.

Coetzee admitted his team now have the more difficult route to a possible Final.

"Yes, we have chosen the difficult route, but it is always a nice challenge to play against our arch rivals, the Blue Bulls," Coetzee said.

"It will be a completely new ball game," he added, in reference to Saturday's showdown with the Bulls.

"In a semifinal it is not about chasing four tries. It is a once-off game and we don't need to get bonus points.

"The defeat to the Lions was a nice kick under the butt and we need to rectify things quickly. If there were guys who were flying they will be back to earth now.

"What we need to do now is to play winning rugby. We need to limit our mistakes and we need to be much more accurate."

The coach would have been concerned about the fact his scrum was under pressure. The line-out also wasn't as effective as it was all season long. He admitted the Lions put them under immense pressure.

"Yes, our set pieces were not up to scratch, particularly not in light of the high standards we set this year. We missed a few line-outs and in the scrums we were not as good as we usually are."

Coetzee also rued a few missed try-scoring opportunities.

"A number of tries are still out there," he commented.

He refused to be too pessimistic though and look at the positives.

"We should be better prepared for the semis," he said, hinting that the Bulls had a much easier last game against the Leopards last Friday.

Springbok flank Schalk Burger should be ready to be considered after a rib injury sustained in the Tri-Nations kept him out of action for the past month.

Prop Brok Harris should also bolster the scrum.

There is, however, concern over WP wings Tonderai Chavhanga and Sireli Naqelevuki.

Both are in doubt for the semifinal after sustaining injuries over the past few days.

Naqelevuki was substituted in Saturday's defeat to the Lions after hurting his ankle, while Chavhanga injured his shoulder in the captain's run last Friday. Their availability will be known on Monday following further tests and scans.

Coetzee did not yet give up hope on a Newlands Final, saying: "Anything is possible. If the Cheetahs beat the Sharks in Durban and we beat the Bulls the final will be at Newlands."

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