Fedsure Western Province, reinforced by the return of several Super 12 players and a fit-again Toks van der Linde, are looking to get their Vodacom Cup campaign back on track when they meet the Pumas at Witbank on Sunday.
Province, weakened by the absence of about 30 players through Super 12 duty or injuries, have battled this season and are currently in sixth position on the points' table. They have only one win to show from four games and will have to win all their remaining fixtures and hope for some favourable results in other games if they want to keep their slim chance of qualifying for the Super Eight alive.
The Pumas are even worse off have won one game in five outings.
WP coach Gert Smal has included Chean Roux (No 8), Pietie Ferreira (flank), Quinton Davids (lock) and Chris Rossouw (flyhalf) in his 22-man squad. All of them have just returned from the overseas leg of the Stormers' Super 12 campaign.
Springbok prop Van der Linde has recovered from the neck injury he sustained on the Springboks' end-of-year tour in Argentina last season and was duly included on the substitutes' bench.
Smal hasn't given up hopes just yet of a Top Eight berth, although he concedes his team are in a rather precarious position. "Yes, we are in a difficult position, but there is definitely still a chance that we can qualify," he said.
"A lot depends on other teams, but we are going flat out to collect full points in our remaining games. It's obviously nice to have the guys back from tour and now we can slowly, but surely begin building our team again."
Smal is satisfied with Van der Linde's physical condition. "The medical team have checked him and gave him the go ahead. He also came through two tough contact sessions unscathed and I just hope he will be there for the whole year."
He indicated that he would give Van der Linde half a game, while Roux will also get some game time. The former Springbok loose forward said this WP team are the strongest he has had at his disposal this season.
"The guys who came back from the Stormers' tour look good. They say they've trained hard over there, but they obviously do not have match fitness due to the lack of game time they had. But that's what we'll have to manage from our side."
Smal expects the Pumas to be tough. "They will also have a few of their players back who have been overseas with the Bulls' Super 12 squad. And they also have reason to pick up their game."
The Boland Kavaliers want to consolidate their position at the top of Section X when they take on the Mighty Elephants in Wellington on Saturday. The Elephants are just outside the top four on 15 points after five games and a win will boost their chances of qualifying immeasurably.
Coach Allister Coetzee emphasised the importance of the game to his charges. "We have to win this one to stay in the hunt for a Super Eight spot. This is the most important game of the year," Coetzee said.
After four consecutive wins the Kavaliers just need a win against the Elephants to go through to the Super Eight phase. Rudy Joubert, however, cautioned his team against complacency.
"Last year we were in the same boat when we only had to beat the Eagles to qualify for the Currie Cup semifinals. We lost focus and paid a heavy price. This time round I will make sure that the guys know exactly what's expected from them."
The Elephants have to overcome a bad record away from home this year if they want to stay in the hunt. Added to this the fact that they couldn't beat the Bolanders at Wellington in six attempts since 1996 and their chances of upsetting the applecart look decidedly remote.
In another game in Section Y, the Spoornet Bulldogs will try to keep their hopes alive when they do battle with the Vodacom Eagles. The Eagles are second on the log and they should have too much ammunition for the spirited home side.
The Bulldogs, however, know that only a win will suffice because it will keep them in contention for a top-four finish and a Super-Eight place. Therefore, a special effort is to be expected from them.
Only one point separates the second-placed Lions and the third-placed Natal Wildebeest in Section X. They look ready to produce an action-packed battle at Ellis Park on Saturday. A win will secure the winner an early Top-Eight booking.
The Leopards are at home against Nashua Griquas, who drew with the Bulldogs last weekend. The home side are in fourth place in Section Y and have everything to play for at Potchefstroom.
Griquas suffered a setback with the withdrawal of regular captain, prop Dawie Theron, due to a back injury. Springbok centre Edrich Lubbe takes over the captaincy.
The Griffons and the Falcons are squaring up at Welkom in a game where the result won't have a bearing on the Super Eight stakes, while the struggling Welwitschias host the Vodacom Cheetahs in Namibia in Section X.
Teams for Witbank:
Fedsure Western Province: Jaco van Schalkwyk; Nico Alberts, Jean de Villiers, Thinus Linee, Egan Seconds; Chris Rossouw, Johannes Conradie; Adri Badenhorst, Pietie Ferreira, Ryno van der Merwe, Drickus Hancke, Quinton Davids, Niel du Toit, Johan van Wyk, Eddie Andrews. Substitutes: Louis Loubscher, Toks van der Linde, Thys Stoltz, Chean Roux, Ashieq Wise, Yazeed Manuel, Donovan van Vuuren.
Pumas: Not Available.
Referee: Johan Meuwesen (EP).
Kick-off: 15:00.
Teams for Boland Stadium:
Boland Kavaliers: Lean van Dyk; John Daniels, Chelton April, WP Strauss, Jan Ackerman; Riaan van Jaarsveld, Cassie Carstens; Henley du Plessis, Hannes de Kock, Jannie Coetzee (capt), Henk Eksteen, Heino Senekal, Andries Human, Dale Santon, Fabian Brandt. Substitutes: Martin van Schalkwyk, Carel van der Merwe, Randile Julies, Chris Potgieter, Neil Papier, Connie Malherbe, Antonius Verhoeven.
Mighty Elephants: Justin Peach; Nardi Lombard, Thando Mlobeli, Tobi de Jager, Wonga Joka; Monwabisi Mdyesha, Albert Viljoen; Jacques Greeff, Barry Pinnock, Sean Plaatjies, Nicky Smit, Wayne Boardman (capt), Tjaart Coetzee, Vorster Venter, Dekado Jantjies. Substitutes: Willie Els, Ronnie Fourie, Henry Pedro, Andile Nyembezi, Michael Vermaak, Pierre Durant, Wayne Bennet.
Referee: Marius Franken.
Kick-off: 15:00.
Teams for Absa Stadium, East London:
Spoornet Bulldogs: Dale Heidtmann; Odwa Ndungane, Fergus Kennedy, Vusumzi Mbulali, Ian Fihlani; Solly Goosen, Vakalisle Nako; Marcel van der Walt, Bennie Jacobs, Graham Carlson (capt), Johan Brink, Philip Schutte, Robin Swanepoel, Tjoepie van den Heever, Janè du Toit, Substitutes: Ondela Kiva, Rod Botha, Derek Henry, Samkelo Mtotywa, Richard Bennett, Chumani Booi, David Maidza.
Eagles: Not Available.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (Sarfu).
Kick-off: 15:00.
Teams for Ellis Park:
Lions: Jaco Booysen; Jannie van der Walt, Gcobani Bobo, Wikus Venter, Oginga Siwundla; Gareth Wright, Grant Bartle; Erik van der Merwe, Wikus van Heerden, Walter Minnaar, Fergus Pringle, Etienne Barnard, Nick Moore (capt), Michael Laubscher, Lawrence Sephaka. Substitutes: James van der Walt, Daniel Muller, Ettiene Barnard, Deon Strydom, Pietie Meyer, Eugene Marx, Tsepo Kokoali.
Natal Wildebeest: Not Available.
Referee: Carl Spannenberg (Sarfu).
Kick-off: 15:00.
Teams for Olen Park:
Leopards: Not Available.
Nashua Griquas: Dennis du Plessis; Scholla Scholtz, Lourens Venter, Edrich Lubbe (capt), Jearus Nicholas; Quintin van Tonder, Christoff Lötter; Johann de Kock, Bertus Heunis, Solly Tyibilika, Slang Roux, Jaco Barnard, Hedley Wessels, Tom Drewett, De Waal Venter. Substitutes: Naude Rademan/Dawie Theron, Riaan Olckers, Nelis Swart, Daan Liversage, Ashley Raman, Dirkie Strydom, Garth Zanberg.
Referee: Eugene Daniels (WP).
Kick-off: 15:00.
Teams for North West Stadium:
Griffons: Gielie de Swart; Brendall Brandt, David van Vuuren, Gordon Fresca , Sacha Marot; Eric Herbert, Charl Blom; Jaco Gouws (capt), JJ Fredericks, Richardo Arnolds, Hein Edwards, Bani Holtzhausen, Frans Botes, Gustav Rademeyer, Kees Lensing. Substitutes: Leonard van der Merwe, Sarel Louw, Thys Louw, Clinton van der Westhuizen, Stefan Pawson, Christo Wiesner, Gerrie Engelbrecht.
Falcons: Dawie du Toit; John Nelson, Ettiene Botha, Joe Esterhuizen, Turtius Douw; Louis van Rensburg, Deon de Kock; Kurt Steinbach, Naas Rossouw, Stephan Britz (capt), Elton Pietersen, Nico Luus, Wikus Botha, James Dalton, Jaco Venter. Substitutes: Danie van der Walt, Pierre Dixon, Nico Wegner, Jaco Webb, Collin Camble, Kenneth Ford, Piet Matthys.
Referee: Louis Booyse (Blue Bulls).
Kick-off: 15:00.
Teams for Independent Stadium, Windhoek:
Welwitschias: Glovin van Wyk; Jaco Kotze, Deon Gouws, Corne Powell, Deon Mouton; Ronaldo Pedro, Riaan Jantjies; Herman Lintvelt, Jan Duvenhage, Jan J Husselman, Nico Genis, Eben Izaacs, Andries Blaauw, Eben Smit, Stephanus Lambert. Substitutes: Corne Redelinghuys, Lorenzo Plaath, Werner Ludwig, Phillipus Isaacs, Morris Kapitako, Archie Graham, Pat Kotze.
Vodacom Cheetahs: Not Available.
Referee: Andy Turner (WP).
Kick-off: 15:00.