With just three rounds to go before the 2008 Currie Cup play-offs on 11 October, the battle continues for the top four, as all South African eyes fall on another round of heated provincial action.

The Sharks missed that elusive bonus-point last weekend against the Cheetahs, but it was enough to edge them in front of the Blue Bulls once again as the two sides (Sharks and Bulls) continue to fight for top-of-the-table honours.

This weekend the game in focus will be between the fourth-placed Cheetahs and the Bulls, the former having come off an unprecedented home loss recently to Western Province (WP) and needing this win to stave off the Cape side's advances into the top four.

WP on the other hand open the weekend's action on Friday against the sixth-placed Griquas and will have an unquestionable five-pointer in mind, which may be harder than first anticipated given the wet forecast at Newlands.

The Lions are also set for a wet affair not far up the N1, taking on the seventh-placed Cavaliers in Wellington on a pitch with undoubtedly the worst drainage.

Pending the outcome of the Bulls endeavors in Bloemfontein, the Lions could find themselves in the number two spot after a bonus-point win.

The eighth-positioned Falcons will be playing host to the log-leaders this weekend at the rarely-used Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park. The Sharks will only need the win to consolidate their position at the top of the competition log, but a brief glance at their line-up tells they aren't taking any chances.

Let's have a look at the weekend's action in more detail...

Friday, 19 September

Western Province (WP) vs Griquas
Newlands, Cape Town, 7.10pm (5.10pm GMT)

WP are racing full steam ahead for a berth in the semifinals, and will need bonus-point victories here on in if they hope to surpass the other close contenders (namely the Cheetahs and the Lions).

This might adequately explain WP coach Allister Coetzee's inclusion of a handful of Springboks in his match-day 22, whilst bearing in mind his rotation policy.

"Nobody told us the Springboks shouldn't be playing," Coetzee told wprugby.com.

"We do appreciate that these players have to be managed, but we have taken that into account in the structuring of our training sessions. Some players will sit out certain practices — in that way they won't be run into the ground.

"Our focus is on Griquas. We can't afford to get ahead of ourselves. We have to get the win and secure the bonus point this weekend," he added.

After a harrowing loss to the Lions last weekend, the Griquas outside chances of making the play-offs were shattered. Nonetheless, this is a side with guts and grit, and now with nothing to lose.

Griquas coach Dawie Theron thus wants his side to end the season on a respective high, and knows that against WP's strengths at the breakdown, his boys will need to up their defence, play constructive rugby and prevent the Cape side from getting quick ball.

"I think the battle of the breakdown will be decisive in this game," Theron told Volksblad.

"Heinrich Stride (who departs for Ireland over the next week) is struggling with a minor injury, but we also wanted to give Frans Viljoen a chance.

"He (Viljoen) has played the role as fetcher with great success on numerous occasions in the past," he added.

Prediction: WP to win an unattractive affair by 15 points.

Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Sireli Naqelevuki, 12 Jean De Villiers (captain), 11 Wylie Human, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Luke Watson, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 JC Kritzinger, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 AJ Venter, 19 Nick Koster, 20 Bolla Conradie, 21 Joe Pietersen, 22 Morgan Newman.

Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Jaco Bekker, 12 Herkie Kruger, 11 MJ Mentz, 10 Conrad Barnard, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Gareth Krause (captain), 7 Frans Viljoen, 6 Ruaan Kitshoff, 5 Stephan Gerber, 4 Wayne van Heerden, 3 Ruaan du Preez, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 Regardt Dreyer.
Replacements: 16 Dean Hopp, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Jacques Lombard, 19 Brendon Snyman, 20 Dougie Helmuth, 21 Naas Olivier, 22 Barry Geel.

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Touch judges: Chris Healey, Roderick Barry
TMO: Shaun Veldsman

Saturday, 20 September

Falcons vs Sharks
Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park, 3pm (1pm GMT)

A side with limited depth and experience, the struggling Falcons embark on another big union clash with a host of new faces in new places as Falcons coach Rudy Joubert looks to give his youngsters some valuable exposure.

It doesn't get easier for the Falcons either, who after this Sharks encounter, are set for a gruelling home strait against the Cheetahs and Blue Bulls respectively.

The Sharks head up to the East Rand looking to consolidate their position on top of the Currie Cup table, as they prepare for their favourable prospects of securing a home semifinal and going by their current form, potentially a home final.

Sharks coach John Plumtree has therefore selected a near to full-strength side in an attempt to steal home the five-pointer, whilst taking into consideration the integration of returning Springboks and solidifying the best possible combinations for the play-offs.

"When it comes to play-offs, you want to be as close to your best starting team as possible," Sharks centre Adi Jacobs told us this week.

"That's his (Plumtree's) kind of thinking I think, knowing he wants to use his strongest combinations and give us enough game-time to play together.

"It's really tough to go up there and get the points, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge," Jacobs added.

Prediction: Sharks to win a high-scoring game by 30 points or more.

Falcons: 15 Johan Jackson, 14 Dewald Pretorius, 13 Rouan Cloete, 12 Hanno Coetzee (captain), 11 Frank Wagenström, 10 John Roodt, 9 Gerrie Odendaal, 8 Thabo Mamojele, 7 Gert Lubbe, 6 Uwe Sauer, 5 Nico Luus, 4 Wouter Moore, 3 Nico Pretorius/Dirk Smit, 2 Jody Jeneker, 1 Zane Killian.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Gavin Whittingham, 18 Marius Coetzer, 19 Daan-Roux van Coller, 20 Freddie van Zyl, 21 Franco Booysen, 22 TBC.

Sharks: 15 Monty Dumond, 14 Waylon Murray, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Johann Muller (captain), 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Deon Carstens, 2 Skipper Badenhorst, 1 Patric Cilliers.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Frederic Michalak, 21 Bradley Barritt, 22 Chris Jordaan.

Referee: Pro Legoete
Touch judges: Jason Jaftha, Peet Badenhorst
TMO: Michael Cupido

Boland vs Lions
Boland Stadium, Wellington, 3pm (1pm GMT)

Due to some convenient permutations in the tournament log, the Lions have been able to shake off a bit of pressure and could move up to second position after some favourable results this weekend.

Nonetheless, the 'mud-bath' at hand will be a challenge in itself, with the injury-ridden Cavaliers no doubt reveling in the familiar wet conditions in Wellington.

"They (Boland) had a big hiding last Friday (against the Blue Bulls) and those guys have a lot of pride to play for," Lions coach Eugene Eloff told this website earlier in the week.

"They've got their backs to the wall — the big danger is that they will run and they can run from everywhere, they can play an opportunistic game which, if it comes off, is very dangerous.

"All we can do at this stage is worry about our own performances. Any possible permutations won't have an affect on us if we win all our matches and get bonus points along the way too."

The Lions have also been handed a handy boost with the return of some valuable Bok resource in Jacque Fourie, who they'll need against the likes of WP next weekend.

"We're hopeful that he (Fourie) will be ready to start for us against Western Province at the start of next month. It's great having him back; we all know his qualities as an attacking force, but his experience at this stage of the season is an even bigger boost for us," Eloff added.

Prediction: Lions to win the mud-wrestle by 12 points.

Boland: 15 Justin Peach, 14 Alshaun Bock, 13 Piet van Zyl (captain), 12 Dewey Swartbooi, 11 Deon Scholtz, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 David Hendricks, 7 Josh Strauss, 6 Angelo Brinkhuis, 5 Brad Mockford, 4 Nico Esterhuyse, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Harry Vermaas, 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Wium, 17 Andries Human, 18 Cecil Kemp, 19 Zolani Mofu, 20 Danie van der Merwe, 21 Hein Myburgh, 22 Lionel Cornelius.

Lions: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Michael Killian, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Trompie Nontshinga, 10 Earl Rose, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Justin Wheeler, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Lawrence Sephaka, 18 Duncan Naudé, 19 Derick Minnie, 20 Louis Strydom, 21 Jaque Fourie, 22 Jaco van Schalkwyk.

Referee: Phillip Bosch
Touch judges: Matt Kemp, Linston Manuels
TMO: Shaun Veldsman

Cheetahs vs Blue Bulls
Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein, 5.05pm (3.05pm GMT)

The match of the weekend takes place at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein, with the defending champions hosting one of the more formidable forces in provincial rugby, the Blue Bulls.

The Bulls put one over the Cheetahs in their previous encounter at Loftus Versfeld, but a game down in Orange Country is another assignment altogether.

Apart from the speed spectacle between Springboks Jongi Nokwe and Bryan Habana, the battle of the loose trios should add to provide more than enough entertainment for one sunny Bloem afternoon.

While the Bulls boast the resources of Bok powerhouse Pierre Spies and the irrepressible Wikus van Heerden, the Cheetahs have their own homegrown legend in captain Juan Smith, as well as the services of one of South Africa's rising fetchers, Heinrich Brussöw.

Again depending on permutations, a Cheetahs loss could see them slip out of the top four, while a Bulls loss could see the Pretoria-based outfit concede their second position on the competition log to the Lions.

Permutations aside, the pride battle between these two provinces is always one of the highlights of the Currie Cup calendar, and will no doubt deliver once again. Prediction: Cheetahs to sneak a home victory by five points.

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Bevin Fortuin, 14 JW Jonker, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Chris Rossouw, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Juan Smith (captain), 6 Heinrich Brussöw, 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 David de Villiers, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Nico Breedt, 19 Hendro Scholtz, 20 Jandré Blom, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 Kabamba Floors.

Blue Bulls: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Wikus van Heerden, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Rayno Gerber, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Juandré Kruger, 19 Dewald Potgieter, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Zane Kirchner.

Referee: Craig Joubert
Touch judges: Marius Jonker, Gareth Lloyd-Jones
TMO: Johann Meuwesen

365

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