Table-toping Cheetahs will be aiming for their sixth straight win of the season when they take on the Sharks in another important Currie Cup clash in Durban on Wednesday.
On the other hand, defending champions Bulls will be hoping to build on from last week’s win when they travel to Johannesburg to face the Lions in the Jukskei derby.
A clash between Western Province and the highly unpredictable Pumas in Cape Town will complete this round of midweek fixture where the Griquas are enjoying a bye.
Western Province VS Pumas
The first match of the day is in Cape Town where Western Province takes on the Pumas where they will be looking to land a second win after falling to four losses in their previous five outings.
After spending some time on the road, they will now enjoy the comfort of home with three back-to-back matches at the Cape Town Stadium where they hope to exploit home ground advantage.
In their two meetings last season, the Cape side beat the Lowvelders 37-23 in Nelspruit, while the sides played out to an exciting 40-40 draw in the Mother City.
Pick: WP Wins by 2/7 at BetXchange
Sharks VS Cheetahs
Sharks head coach Etienne Fynn has kept to the same pack that did duty against the Bulls last week but has made three changes to the backline for the match against the Cheetahs.
Following his quality efforts off the bench last week, Ethan Fisher replaces Murray Koster at inside centre with Jeremy Ward bringing in vast experience to the backline to replace Marnus Potgieter at outside centre.
Jordan Chait, who was a late replacement for Tito Bonilla when the Argentinean flyhalf was forced out of the game due to food poisoning last week, comes in at fullback in place of Innocent Radebe with Bonilla taking his position at 10.
The Cheetahs are the final remaining team yet to taste defeat in the competition having won all five of their matches to date to stay at the top of the log.
They have a vastly experienced side with players in the form of Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn who are playing play an important role for their team’s successes this season.
Pick: Cheetahs Wins by 6/10 at BetXchange
Lions VS Bulls
Lizo Gqoboka will lead an exciting Bulls side that will take on the struggling Lions during their Currie Cup clash in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
The Bulls on Tuesday announced a youthful team that includes the likes of Robert Hunt, David Kriel, Sibongile Novuka and Stravino Jacobs with Gqoboka as the captain.
For the hosts, speedster Boldwin Hansen, who last featured a month ago, will make a welcome return to Currie Cup action against the Bulls.
This match is also a first start of the season for exciting loose-forward Lindo Ncusane who’ll combine with Mark Snyman and the in-form Wits and former Lions U19 captain Cal Smid in the backrow.
The halfback pairing of Ginter Smuts and James Tedder, who did duty last week against the Griquas, will have the responsibility of steering the Lion’s attack against a determined Bulls outfit.
