South Australian captain Johan Botha is remorseful for a brain-fade which led to his suspension as four states battle to reach the Sheffield Shield final.

Botha initially wanted to appeal his one-match ban for ball tampering as the Redbacks prepare to meet Tasmania in Hobart from Tuesday.

In other games to decide the finalists, ladder leaders Western Australia clash with NSW in Canberra, and Victoria host Queensland.

WA (26 points), SA (26 points), NSW (26 points) and Queensland (22 points) can all reach the Shield final.

An outright win for the Redbacks over the Tigers will ensure they reach the final. WA and NSW have an identical outlook.

Queensland must defeat wooden-spooners Victoria outright and hope the Redbacks lose, or there is no outright result in the WA-NSW fixture.

But SA will be without Botha for their bid to contest their first Shield final in 18 years.

Botha admitted to ball tampering last week and was banned for one match for actions Cricket Australia deemed were contrary to the spirit of the game, harmful to the interests of cricket and brought the game into disrepute.

It’s believed Botha used spikes on his cricket boots to damage a ball which was being replaced by a new ball in last week’s draw with NSW.

The former South African international lodged an appeal against his ban but changed his mind in the knowledge if unsuccessful, his suspension could be increased and he might miss the final.

“We made the decision that in the best interests of Johan and the team, we will not follow through on the appeal process,” SA’s high performance manager Jamie Cox said.

“We can now allow the team to settle and focus on what is the biggest match of the season.

“It is obviously disappointing to not have our leader in Hobart and Johan is bitterly disappointed but has accepted the penalty and is very remorseful.”

Fringe Test batsman Phil Hughes will captain the Redbacks, who have finished bottom in the past four seasons and in nine of the 17 seasons since their 1995-96 title win.