It has to be the winner's from week one at home in week three and there's a very good reason for that - money.

If you go away in week one and win, thus not having to play at home in week two, and then have to go away again you do not have a home play off game at all despite being in the top four and reaching the semi final. That is in effect a punishment for success because the teams finishing fifth and sixth in the league DO have a home play off game and the additional revenue that brings.

I know gate receipts from the play offs are split but there is still additional revenue to be made from home games - merchandise sales, programmes, food and drink etc etc etc. Why financially reward the fifth and sixth placed teams for relative failure (by comparison with those above them) and potentailly punish the third and fourth placed teams for relative success?

Win tomorrow and play at home in week three. End of.

Depends how intelligent you are. Not surprised some on here are struggling.

oh deary me! got a section 117 have we?(time away with consultant permission from hospital)

Hi Guys,
Think I understand most of this,,,,,,,,Just to clarify, if we lose on friday, and then beat F.C. or Rovers at home the following week, would we then have to face Stains at KR in the semi ( assuming that we are not chosen by the pies, as sacrificial lambs,,assuming they win, ...not that we would not beat them.). ?.
I think I comprehend most of this, But why the hell can't we have:-
1 v 8
2 v 7
3 v 6
4 v 5,

The winners of the semi have home advantage regardless of final league placings.

Sorry that should have been the winners of the 1st games featuring the top 4.....God it's confusing intit

Some people on here would struggle to find an elephant in the snow with diaorrea..

Correct me if I am wrong, but the whole idea of the losers from the top 4 in week 1 getting a second chance stems from when there were only 6 teams in the playoffs????

That makes sense. You have 6 teams and need to get it down to 4 and then 2 for the grand final.
So you have the top 4 battle it out with 2 going through to the semis, and then the 2 losers play 5th and 6th to get to the semis, and hey presto 6 has become 4 and then 4 becomes 2.

But now with 8 teams in the playoffs, why not just have a straight quarter final knock out, semi final knock out, final?

It surely makes far more sense and is a lot more straight forward.

Finishing higher still gives you the advantage of playing the lower placed teams and it gives you home advantage throughout the playoffs until the final.