BLUE Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has backed Western Province to win the 2014 Currie Cup after his side went down 31-23 to the Capetonians at Newlands on Saturday.

Ludeke watched his side fall 25-3 down after a blistering start by WP in the semifinal before the Bulls battled back in the second half to save a small measure of dignity after it looked like they were going to be blown away.

WP now face the Golden Lions in the final at Newlands on Saturday and will start as favourites, thanks mainly to home ground advantage.

"If I were a betting man I wouldn't go against WP winning the final next week," Ludeke said.

"WP have been the form team all season and are very strong at home. The Lions have been giant-killers throughout the tournament, but WP have the all-round game to win it.

"They're excellent in broken play, they have a good kicking game and their pack of forwards have been performing very well."

The Lions though, will be quietly confident after thrashing the Sharks 50-20 in the day's first semifinal at Ellis Park.

WP have been almost unbeatable at Newlands - only losing to the Sharks in the final weekend of group play when coach Allister Coetzee picked a virtual under-21 team because they had already secured the overall top place on the standings.

"I wasn't surprised by the margin of the Lions' win over the Sharks because Ellis Park is a tough place to play," Coetzee said.

"On top of that they are a very good side. They will ask completely different questions of us because they are good at mauling, they have a powerful scrum and they can attack narrowly or with width."