Blue Bulls flank Dewald Potgieter says there has been a significant lift in intensity since the return of the team's Springboks and he predicts that they'll have a massive impact against the Free State Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke included Springbok stars such as lock Victor Matfield, No.8 Pierre Spies, flyhalf Morné Steyn and lock Danie Rossouw in his starting line-up for Saturday's crucial Currie Cup clash.

Many of the Tri-Nations-conquering Boks have been slowly integrated into their respective provinces but a major concern for team's such as the Bulls and Sharks, who have a number of returning Boks, was to maintain continuity and integrate their stars seamlessly.

Potgieter said the Bulls' gambit of introducing their Boks has been smooth and he is confident that they will be able to maintain their current momentum.

"We're in a good position at the moment. We said at the start of the season that by the time the Boks come back we want to be in a semifinal position, so we are happy," Potgieter told iafrica.com during the build-up to Saturday's clash.

"They [Boks] bring calmness to the team. They've had a wonderful year and it has lifted the sprit in the camp. They slotted back in well with the rhythm of the team and it just great to have them back."

The Bulls will face a red-hot Cheetahs outfit who will be desperate to continue their current wining streak to strengthen their position in the playoff bubble.

However, Potgieter feels that the Bulls are in a similar spot but he is hoping that the 'make-or-break' nature of Saturday's game won't cull the teams' creativity.

"If we pick up a loss over the next two weeks we'll be in deep trouble. So, Saturday's game is almost like a mini-quarterfinal for us," he said.

"We won't let that [desperation] stop us from going all out. It's going to be a huge battle. Now that we have some established players back, things will come more naturally."

Potgieter is well-aware of the Cheetahs' ability to play expansively and is why he highlighted the breakdown as a critical area.

Over the past two weeks, the Cheetahs struggled at the breakdown against Western Province and the Sharks. Therefore Potgieter and co. will fancy their chances in this area with Ashley Johnson, Frans Viljoen and Heinrich Brüssow playing together for only the second time as a back row combination for the Bloemfontein outfit.

"The breakdown will be the biggest part of Saturday's game," Potgieter admitted.

"I'm teaming up with [flank] Deon Stegmann for this first time since the Super 14 and we'll be up against Heinrich Brussöw, who is the incumbent Bok flank. So, it will be a huge battle and it's something we've prepared for well.

"Most of the tries in the tournament have come from turnover ball, therefore it's a huge responsibility for us and it may determine the outcome."

365

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