Who will win Premiership promotion?
With Worcester's drop into the Championship, four teams will begin their quest for promotion with the playoff semi-finals.
With Worcester's drop into the Championship, four teams will begin their quest for promotion this weekend with the playoff semi-finals.
Bristol, Rotherham, Leeds and London Welsh are all in the hunt to become the Premiership's 12th side next season. So, let's get to know them better:
Bristol
Coach: Andy Robinson
Captain: Mark Sorenson
Key Signings: Ryan Jones, Jack Lam, Dwayne Peel, Anthony Perenise
Ground: Memorial Ground (Ashton Gate if promoted)
League Position: 1st
The pre-playoff favourites have certainly been busy bolstering their squad for top-flight rugby once again, with the above names joined by the likes of Ross Rennie, David Lemi, Matthew Morgan and Chris Brooker.
Bristol haven't been in the Premiership now since 2009 and despite finishing the league season in first place on two occasions since, both times they have gone on to lose out in the knockout stages.
It's been a cruel succession of blows for one of England's greatest clubs, offering a warning to Worcester that instant promotion is by no means guaranteed.
Operating this season with a deep squad full of Premiership experience has certainly helped on the way to 19 wins from 23 matches, including a run of 13 straight victories. Look out for departing winger George Watkins too, who has scored 18 tries this season.
Having Ryan Jones arrive early to compete in the playoffs is a welcome boost but based on current form Bristol may have still won without him present. With the tag of being favourites of course comes the pressure.
Andy Robinson has steadily rebuilt his reputation since his time with Scotland ended with a defeat to Tonga at Pittodrie. He can continue that task by taking Bristol back to the big time.
London Welsh
Coach: Justin Burnell
Captain: Tom May
Key Signing: Gareth Davies,Tyson Keats, Rory Pitman
Ground: Kassam Stadium
League Position: 2nd
Relegated from the Premiership at the end of last season, the general consensus was that we may not see the Exiles return to the Premiership given the departures of key men such as Jonathan Mills and Ed Jackson, plus their director of rugby Lyn Jones.
Justin Burnell has come in from Cardiff Blues and turned Welsh into the best defensive side in the league, conceding only 348 points over their 23 matches.
Finishing in second place eight points behind Bristol, Seb Stegmann has been a source of tries while Tom May, the former England centre, is their captain.
It would be wrong to write Welsh off given the experience in their side but facing Leeds instead of Rotherham is a tougher ask, particularly away at Headingley where Welsh won 31-24 earlier this season.
Should they get to the final against Bristol, then they are undoubtedly in with a chance when the pressure will be on, given they won and lost exactly the same amount of games.
Leeds Carnegie
Coach: Diccon Edwards
Captain: Jacob Rowan
Key Signing: Chris Pilgrim, James Fitzpatrick, Charlie Beech, Harry Leonard
Ground: Headingley
League Position: 3rd
Finishing the season with one win less than the top two sides, Leeds are looking to return to the top flight for the first time since their relegation in 2011.
A big part of their success has come down to mid-season arrivals.
Rob Vickerman returned from time away with England Sevens to slot into midfield, while David Sisi, Jonny Bentley and Charlie Beech all arrived on loan from Bath and Gloucester respectively, along with Jonah Holmes from London Wasps.
Steve McColl is one player who will be in the Premiership for definite next season with Gloucester, a loss to Leeds regardless of whether they go up or stay in the Championship.
Led by impressive young flanker Jacob Rowan, a point of concern for Leeds has to be losing both of their matches against London Welsh in the regular season. That said, it would be great to see a side such as Leeds with all their ambition return to the Premiership.
Rotherham
Coach: Lee Blackett
Captain: Garry Law
Key Signing: Tom Holmes
Ground: Clifton Lane (Oakwell if promoted)
League Position: 4th
The outside bet, Rotherham possess this season's top points scorer in Argentine centre Juan Pablo Socino.
The Newcastle-bound player has racked up 300 points so far this season, over 100 more than any other player.
Rotherham may have taken the final playoff spot but they secured it comfortably, finishing 14 points ahead of London Scottish.
That said, they were 16 points behind table-topping Bristol. Rotherham have already lost to Bristol twice this season, by margins of eight to ten points.
Charlie Mulchrone is a promising talent at scrum-half, brother of London Irish's Fergus, while Alfie To'oala will be a familiar name for Bristol fans after his time there.
The concern for Rotherham is that with having to travel to Bristol first, the damage may be already done before they return to Clifton Lane for the second leg. An agreement to groundshare with Barnsley FC at Oakwell is in place for if Rotherham are promoted.