Some interesting Vodacom Cup Top-Eight action awaits rugby fans on Saturday, with the game at Newlands between neighbours Western Province and the Boland Kavaliers probably just shading the Blue Bulls/Cheetahs game as the pick of the games.
The battle for semifinal places are really intriguing, with the Blue Bulls (19) and the Free State Cheetahs (16) the only teams who can relax at this stage. The Boland Kavaliers have 11 points, the Natal Wildebeest and South Western District Eagles nine, while the Lions, Griquas and Western Province each have eight.
There is no love lost between Western Province and Boland and their meetings over the last few years have resulted in intriguing battles. As WP coach Gert Smal said this week: "The Boland players always lift their standard when they play against us.
"There are a lot of players in their team who went to Boland because they weren't offered a contract at Western Province. Now they are keen to prove that they should have been in the WP side. The intensity of a derby is always higher and we expect a tough game."
Smal added that the Boland Kavaliers' combination is as close to their Currie Cup side, bar three injured players and he said it would be a good challenge for his charges.
After carrying over only one point to the Top Eight stage, the team has been buoyed by the five points they picked up against the Lions last weekend. "Yes, those five points give us hope of still making it to the final.
"We know we have to win all our remaining games and the guys are positive. Our immediate goal is the semifinals," said captain Tinus Linee.
Linee expects the Boland team to come with a highly physical onslaught. "We have a bunch of young players and I just hope the guys won't be put off by the needle I expect to be in the game."
The scrap between the Blue Bulls and the Vodacom Cheetahs at Loftus could be another thriller. The Bulls are on a roll. The Cheetahs, however, are just three points behind them and want to keep their hopes alive with an away win.
Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer brought back former Springbok centre Danie van Schalkwyk into the side for his first appearance for the Blue Bulls this year.
That is the only change to the backline of the side who beat the Natal Wildebeest in Pietermaritzburg last weekend. Regular captain and No 8 Chris le Roux is also back after missing the previous game through injury, while Richard Bands makes way for Danie Coetzee as hooker.
Meyer was delighted with the away win last weekend. "It rained a lot and the conditions were really difficult. It didn't suit our game at all. At one stage we were 3-15 behind, but the guys fought back and showed great character to clinch the win," Meyer said.
Meyer pointed out that the Blue Bulls now have a proud away record of four games and four wins.
The former Springbok assistant coach said he is glad to have a player of the calibre of Van Schalkwyk back in the side. "This is the second consecutive game now that we have to change our centre combination, so we don't have rhythm there at the moment.
"But Danie has a lot of experience and he only needs to get his confidence back, although we don't want to put him under any pressure."
The Cheetahs will be without big-match winner Kennedy Tsimba, who is out with an ankle injury. Conrad Barnard takes his place at flyhalf.
Cheetahs' coach Peet Kleynhans is wary of the Bulls. "They are a team who can give you lots of heartache. They play with the same passion that characterised our play last season. They are not for nothing the log leaders in the competition - they worked hard to earn their 19 points," Kleynhans said.
Meyer returned the compliment by saying the Cheetahs are a very strong side and boast a particularly strong pack. "I said it right from the start that the Cheetahs, as the defending champs, will be the team to beat.
"They've lost two or three games against weaker teams, but they won the games that really mattered. They are an experienced side, although they've got a core of young players. They've been together for three years now and are a well-conditioned unit."
Eagles coach Eric Sauls has read his team the riot act following their embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Cheetahs. The men from George conceded eight tries en route to a 18-58 defeat in Bloemfontein last week.
On Saturday the Eagles will face the Natal Wildebeest and they are looking for an improved performance. Sauls has retained only three of his backline players, although Bevan Fortuin will move from fullback to flyhalf and Darryl Coeries will be at his preferred position on the wing instead of centre.
In the pack, four players have been retained although captain Johan Kapp will be at No 8 instead of lock.
Nashua Griquas are on eight points and are desperate to take the points from the Lions in their encounter at Absa Park in Kimberley on Saturday. The home side made five changes and a few positional switches after their defeat to the Kavaliers at Wellington last Thursday.
Griquas will be without experienced wing Scholla Scholtz (chest), No 8 Bok Markram (thigh muscle) and hooker Tom Drewett (ankle). The Lions have their eyes on a final berth too, despite last weekend's hiccup. Therefore a good old slugfest between evenly-matched opponents is expected.
Teams for Fedsure Park Newlands:
Fedsure Western Province: Donovan van Vuuren; Desmond Houston, Jean de Villiers, Tinus Linee (capt), Egon Seconds; Yazeed Manuel, Dan van Zyl; Adri Badenhorst, Pietie Ferreira, Ryno van der Merwe, Drikus Hancke, Immanuel McKenzie, Neil du Toit, Johan van Wyk, Toks van der Linde. Substitutes. Louis Loubser, Piet Franken, Thys Stoltz, Fiela van Zyl, Johannes Conradie, Chris van Pletzen, Nico Alberts.
Boland Kavaliers: Robert Markram; John Daniels, Piet van Zyl, Chelton April, Ashwin Willemse; WP Strauss, Cassie Carstens; Henley du Plessis, Donovan Everitt, Jannie Coetzee (capt), Vion Wium, Heino Senekal, Andries Human, Dale Santon, Fabian Brandt. Substitutes: Martin van Schalkwyk, Carel van der Merwe, Henk Eksteen, Randile Julies, Neil Papier, Connie Malherbe, Lean van Dyk.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (Sarfu).
Kick-off: 17:00.
Teams for Minolta Loftus:
Blue Bulls: David Manuel; Giscard Pieters, Danie van Schalkwyk, Tiaan Joubert, Rayno Hendriks; Jaco van Schalkwyk, Coenraad Groenewald; Chris le Roux (capt), Johan Wasserman, Denzil Frans, Francois van Schouwenburg, Bakkies Botha, Pierre Ribbens, Danie Coetzee, Wessel Roux. Substitutes: Richard Bands, Rudi du Randt, Danie Rossouw, Schutte Bekker, Hannes Venter, Jacques Schutte, Norman Jordaan.
Free State Cheetahs: Isak Job; Ashwell Rafferty, De Wet Oelschig, MJ Smith, Ferdie Wesso; Conrad Barnard, Jimmy Powell; Tokkie Kasselman, Gerrie Britz, Hendro Scholtz, Boela du Plooy (capt), Joe Beukes, Dougie Heymans, Andries van der Linden, Dirkie Groenewald. Substitutes: Attie Winter, Danie Saaiman, André Smit, Gromingo Mzunga, Neil Powell, Willie Nagel, Leon van den Heever.
Referee: Carl Spannenberg (Sarfu).
Kick-off: 13:00.
Teams for Outeniqua Park:
Eagles: Keith Meyer; Darryl Coeries, Manie du Toit, Bernie Hennessey, Virgil Frans; Bevan Fortuin, Noel Oelschig; Johan Kapp (capt), Enoch Wawini, Jeandry de Lange, Francois du Toit, John Slade, Flippie Spies, Rich Verster, JC Roux. Substitutes: Raynn Bruce, Patrick Bell, Trevor Hall, Riaan Thomas, Rynardt van As, Jerome Muller, Johan Koekemoer.
Natal Wildebeest: Russell Bennett; Clark Manuel, Grant Oliver, Gavin Hume, Lodie van Staden; Dean Hayden, Ryan Walker; Shaun Sowerby, Jonno Brayley (capt), Marc de Marigny, Rob Linde, Carlo del Fava, BJ Botha, Ryan Fisher, Aubrey Mbatha. Substitutes: Mike Nel, Raphael Houston, Johan Muller, Llewellyn Howard, Hentie Martens, Enrico Laas, Anton Pitout.
Referee: Andy Turner (WP).
Kick-off: 15:00.
Teams for Absa Park:
Nashua Griquas: Henri van Niekerk, Herchel Roman, Dries Scholtz, Lourens Venter, Jearus Nicholas, Quinton van Tonder, Christoff Lotter, Johann de Kock, Bertus Heunis, Solly Tyibilika, Slang Roux, Nelis Swart, Dawie Theron,, Hedley Wessels, Riaan Olckers. Substitutes: Braam Hendricks, De Waal Venter, Hanu Nel, Reginald Nutt, Kosie van Wyk, Dennis du Plessis and Japie Swart.
Lions: Kobus Engelbrecht; Dave Malherbe, Eugene Marx, Jaco Pretorius, Oginga Siwundla; Tsepo Kokoali, Grant Bartle; Erik van der Merwe, Wikus van Heerden, Walter Minnaar, Barend Pieterse, Fergus Pringle, Nic Moore (capt), Tommie Webb, Lawrence Sepaka. Substitutes: James van der Walt, Daniel Muller, Ettiene Barnard, Deon Strydom, Bennie Nortje, Gareth Wright, Mac Masina.
Referee: Michael Katzenellenbogen (Nat).
Kickoff: 15:00.