The Top Eight section of the Bankfin Currie Cup competition promises a lot of exciting action this weekend, with the game on Saturday between log leaders Western Province and the Falcons in Kempton Park sure to provide fireworks.
In other action the Natal Sharks entertain Griquas at Durban's Absa Stadium on Friday, while the Free State Cheetahs and Blue Bulls battle it out in Bloemfontein on Saturday. In Sunday's game the Lions, with former Bok captain Andre Vos back at the helm, play against the Pumas.
The unbeaten Western Province are leading the pack with 16 points, followed by the impressive Falcons on 14, the Pumas have 11 and the Natal Sharks and Cheetahs are both on 10. The Lions are still in the race with 9.
They are followed by the Bulls on 9, who have to win all three their remaining matches if they want to go through to the semifinal stages. Griquas seem certain of the wooden spoon, languishing at the bottom on a miserable 2 points.
The Falcons are capable of producing an upset at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park. While coach Phil Pretorius this week played down the importance of the game to his troops, WP counterpart Gert Smal laid down the gauntlet.
The coach said his team wouldn't measure themselves against the Falcons, but rather the other way around. "We want to improve our level of play and see how well we can do things. They must worry about us," said a determined Smal.
Pretorius said a win is not important to him, that his players enjoy themselves is more important. It is highly refutable, however, that his fired-up charges will share those sentiments as they have a great opportunity of upstaging their big-name opponents.
Province's class should eventually shine through, but the Falcons - with exciting centres Adrian Jacobs and Ettienne Botha (pictured) the main strike force - will be tough to beat.
On Friday the Sharks should prove way too powerful for Griquas, who gave the Cheetahs a good run for their money in Kimberley last weekend. To repeat that type of performance at the Shark tank, however, is a totally different matter.
The game at Loftus Versfeld between semifinal hopefuls the Bulls and Cheetahs is capable of developing into a thriller. The Cheetahs are renowned for playing an all-out attacking brand of rugby and the Bulls under Heyneke Meyer have won a lot of fans with their exciting running rugby.
The Bulls have their backs to the wall and know every game for them now is a knock out game. So expect them to throw all caution to the wind and run the ball at every opportunity. The fact that they are battling to slot their kicks at posts doesn't leave them with much of an option.
The Cheetahs have brought back Conrad Barnard in place of Kennedy Tsimba at flyhalf. Centre MJ Smit replaces JP du Toit and Andre van Niekerk is back at hooker for Andries van der Linde.
On Sunday the Lions, who received a tongue-lashing from coach Frans Ludeke this week following their defeat to Western Province, will be looking for a convincing victory to boost their morale for the rest of their campaign.
With Bok flank Vos back as captain they should be a much more composed side than the one that at times looked rudderless against Province. The Pumas, however, have their sights firmly on a semifinal spot and they know another defeat would be detrimental to their cause.
Teams for Absa Stadium, Durban:
Natal Sharks: Justin Swart, Deon Kayser, Andre Snyman, Trevor Halstead, Rodger Smith, Herkie Kruger, Craig Davidson, Shaun Sowerby, Charl van Rensburg, Warren Brosnihan, Albert van den Berg, AJ Venter, Deon Carstens, John Smit (capt), Eduard Coetzee. Substitutes: Lukas van Biljon, Brendan Botha, Philip Smit, Warren Britz, Dave von Hoesslin, Stefan Terblanche, Clark Manuel.
Griquas: Corrie Avenant, Dennis du Plessis, Lourens Venter, George Binikos, Jearus Nicholas, Quinton van Tonder, Matt Botha, Attie Stander, Bertus Heunis, Thando Manana, Nelis Swart, Jaco Barnard, Dawie Theron (capt), Hedley Wessels, De Waal Venter. Substitutes: Tom Drewett, Ian Wessels, Hanu Nel, Solly Tyibilika, Garth Zandberg, Herchel Roman, Henri van Niekerk.
Referee: Andre Watson.
Kick-off: 19:10.
Teams for Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein:
Cheetahs: Leon van den Heever, Wylie Human, Helgard Brink, JP du Toit, Edrick Fredericks, Conrad Barnard, Neil Powell, Johan Erasmus, André Venter, Hendro Scholtz, Boela du Plooy (capt), Joe Beukes, Dougie Heymans, Andre van Niekerk, Daan Human. Substitutes: Andries van der Linde, Danie Saayman, Gerrie Britz, Gromingo Mzunga, Jimmy Powell, JP du Toit, Kennedy Tsimba.
Blue Bulls: Johan Roets, McNeil Hendricks, Frikkie Welsh, Boeta Wessels, Gavin Passens, Jaco van der Westhuyzen (capt), Joost van der Westhuizen, Chris le Roux, Piet Joubert, Anton Leonard, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Piet Boer, Danie Coetzee, Jannie Brooks, Wessel Roux. Substitutes: Janie Brooks, Sias Wagner, Matt Frank, Danie Rossouw, Coenraad Groenewald, Danie van Schalkwyk, David Manuel.
Referee: Mark Lawrence (Pumas).
Kick-off: 17:05.
Teams for Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park:
Falcons: Dawie du Toit, Turtuis Douw, Ettiene Botha, Adrian Jacobs, Wynand Lourens, Joe Esterhuizen, Deon de Kock, Lodewyk Hattingh, Naas Rossouw, Nicky van der Walt, Braam Els (capt), Ralf Schroeder, Matthew Proudfoot, Skipper Badenhorst, Gunder Williamson. Substitutes: Jan van der Schyff, Japie Barnard, Stephan Britz, Jaco Booysen, Freddy Roberts, Juan Houtshamer, Jan Cloete.
Fedsure Western Province: Percy Montgomery, Breyton Paulse, De Wet Barry, Braam van Straaten, Pieter Rossouw, Chris Rossouw, Neil de Kock, Bob Skinstad, Corne Krige (capt), Hendrik Gerber, Hottie Louw, Quinton Davids, Cobus Visagie, Pieter Dixon, Toks van der Linde. Substitutes: Charl Marais, Faan Rautenbach, Thys Stoltz, Pietie Ferreira, Johannes Conradie, Werner Greeff, Egon Seconds.
Referee: Tappe Henning (Sarfu).
Kick-off: 15:00.
Teams for Ellis Park, Johannesburg:
Lions: Conrad Jantjes, Thinus Delport, Gcobani Bobo, Japie Mulder, Dean Hall, Louis Koen, Werner Swanepoel, Johann van Niekerk, Russel Winter, Andre Vos (capt), Jannes Labuschagne, Johan Ackermann, Willie Meyer, Leon Boshoff, Heinrich Kok. Substitutes: Delarey du Preez, Lawrence Sephaka, Kleinjan Tromp, Wikus van Heerden, Grant Bartle, Clinton van Rensburg, Grant Esterhuizen.
Pumas: Marius Goosen, Jacques Juries, Riaan Potgieter, Franco Smith, Marius Schoeman, Nel Fourie, Hakkies Hüsselman, Frans Allers, Pierre Uys, Ryan Jacobs, Gerhard Laufs, Derrick Grobbelaar (capt), Hakkies Swart, Henry Kemp, Christo Bezuidenhout. Substitutes: Paul Hoffman, Jaco Venter, Hendry Rheeders, Denzil Manuel, Conrad Breytenbach, Willie Nagel, Jan-Harm van Wyk.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan.
Kick-off: 15:00.