Playoffs qualification beckons Royal Challengers Bengaluru while elimination stares Kolkata Knight Riders in the face as the two sides meet in an Indian Premier League (IPL) fixture at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Saturday.

A win for RCB over the defending champion will guarantee a top-four berth and clear the course for it to stake claim for a top-two spot. For KKR, a defeat will send the outfit crashing out.

The home side will certainly fancy its chances, for it has all overseas personnel – except injured pacer Josh Hazlewood – back after the week-long break, and has also seen skipper Rajat Patidar make significant progress after suffering a hand injury in the game against Chennai Super Kings on May 3.

– N. Sudarshan