Sharks want to topple WP

WESTERN Province remain the only unbeaten side in the Currie Cup and the log-leading Sharks will be eager to see an end to that statistic as the competition reaches the halfway mark.

The Sharks travel to Newlands for the 7.05pm clash with confidence lofty on the back of three consecutive victories and looking the most threatening and impressive of the six teams so far in the competition.

Under new mentorship of Brendan Venter, the Durban outfit brushed themselves off after their 30-32 defeat to Griquas in the season opening match early last month. The Sharks went on to beat the Golden Lions, Free State Cheetahs and most recently the Bulls. WP are their next target.

Province are yet to taste defeat, having secured two wins and two hard-fought draws so far. Last weekend the Cape side managed to claw their way back to a last-minute stalemate with the Lions at Loftus.

So far at home, WP drew 24-24 with the Blue Bulls and narrowly beat the Cheetahs 15-14. They will need to step up a gear this weekend if they are to stop a bullish Sharks side.

The second-placed Cheetahs travel to Pretoria to take on a wounded Bulls side at Loftus.

Coach Pine Pienaar’s young Bulls lie agonisingly at the foot of the table following a fortnight of defeats – a heavy 62-23 loss to the Lions and a 3418 defeat to the Sharks last weekend. The match kicks off at 5.05pm. In the early game of the day, the Lions will be away in Kimberley to take on the Griquas at GWK Park.

Lions coach Johan Ackermann has made six changes to his side that drew with WP last weekend, in keeping with their rotational policy.

Griquas have made changes due to injury and the seven-match suspension of Aussie lock Rory Arnold for biting Cheetahs hooker Ethienne Reynecke last weekend.

The match starts at 3pm.