SANZAAR will announce the future make-up of Super Rugby on Sunday, bringing an end to a month of confusion and speculation about the competition.

It seems certain that Australia and South Africa will lose one or more teams for 2018 to allow a return to the 15-team competition with Perth's Western Force, the Port Elizabeth-based Kings and the Cheetahs of Bloemfontein seen as the most vulnerable franchises.

SANZAAR, made up of the South African, New Zealand, Australian and Argentine unions, met in London last month to hammer out a solution to the problems of an over-complicated structure.

The 18-team format — introduced in 2016 after Argentina's Jaguares and the Sunwolves of Japan joined the competition and the Kings returned — was widely criticised and there were fears the quality of the product was being diluted.

Late last month the Western Force rejected media reports suggesting the Perth-based side would be axed from the competition.

Force chief executive Mark Sinderberry said at the time: "It's not a case of whether they should or should not (be cut), at all. They (the Force) will survive."

Earlier in March, Harold Verster, chief executive of the Cheetahs, was quoted as saying one team each from South Africa and Australia would be cut for 2018.

The announcement is set to be made at the conclusion of the Super Rugby round at 6pm (AEST).

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AAP / ABC