It means eight teams will play in the top flight of the country's premier domestic competition and while it will probably still produce some lob-sided results, it is a "strength-versus-strength" format that leaves the back door open for the minnows to fight their way into the top flight.

The President's Council held its last meeting of the year in Cape Town and afterwards confirmed that the eight-team Currie Cup and six-team First Division format has been retained.

However, the 2006 First Division champions Boland Cavaliers will meet the bottom team from this year's Currie Cup competition, the Pumas, in a two-match (home and away) play-off series next year to determine who will play in the top flight next year.

If they win one match each, they will remain in their respective competitions.

This format for the play-offs would apply only to next year.

From 2008 the two teams that finish last in the Currie Cup competition and the top two in the First Division will play off every year.

Several formats for the Currie Cup competition were put on the table and discussed on Wednesday.

The major unions - or the big five, consisting of the Blue Bulls, Cheetahs, Lions, Sharks and Western Province - wanted an out-and-out strength-versus-strength format of five or six teams.

The minnows fancied a 14-team competition including all the sides.

They settled for a compromise, giving the minnows a shot every year to get promoted.