Here are five Bulls players who need game time to be sharp for their United Rugby Championship matches

THE BULLS might be confident of claiming a Currie Cup home semi-final, but there is also the more important quest of getting their squad ready for the United Rugby Championship playoffs.

The Pretoria-based team lead the Currie Cup standings on 32 points from eight matches, but the second-placed Free State Cheetahs have a game in hand and trail by just one point.

Gert Smal’s team will face giant-killers Griquas at Loftus tomorrow, and will want to secure top spot on the log over the last four league encounters.

Jake White’s United Rugby Championship team are currently on a break until they take on the Ospreys in Swansea on 20 May, and they will want to claim a bonus-point victory to finish as high as possible to get a more favourable quarter-final draw.

White has suggested that some of his United Rugby Championship players will bolster the Currie Cup team against Griquas and in next week’s clash against the Lions.

But the Bulls’ United Rugby Championship hopes may be better served by their regular starting players resting over this fortnight, in order to be fresh for the closing stages of the competition.

Here are five players who need game time against Griquas tomorrow, though, to be sharp for the United Rugby Championship team ...

The nippy scrumhalf has been a breath of fresh air every time he takes to the field, whether it has been for the Currie Cup or United Rugby Championship team.

Johannes’ slick service from the base and his ability to snipe around the fringes make him a valuable asset. White prefers the more experienced Embrose Papier and Zak Burger, but Johannes must be ready in case of an injury.

JANKO SWANEPOEL

White will hope that the lanky lock has recovered from a head knock to face Griquas. He was one of the stars of the Currie Cup triumphs over the last two seasons, but has missed out on United Rugby Championship starts following the arrival of Walt Steenkamp from the Cheetahs.

But Swanepoel is a classy line-out jumper and has a high work-rate around the field, and could make a serious impact off the bench for the United Rugby Championship outfit.

DYLAN SMITH

The former Lions loosehead prop has begun his transition to tighthead since joining the Bulls a few weeks ago, and is a work in progress.

White rates him highly, so the more time in the saddle on the right-hand side of the scrum, the better.

And the Griquas pack never takes a backward step in the set-pieces, so it is the ideal test for Smith.

JUAN MOSTERT

The young flyhalf hasn’t had too many opportunities this season, but if anything had to happen to Chris Smith or Morné Steyn, he is the next-in-line at No.10 and must get minutes under his belt against Griquas.

DAVID KRIEL

The double Currie Cup-winning fullback seems to have fallen out of favour this season, although one can’t argue that Kurt-lee Arendse has been a revelation at No.15. But Kriel is able to operate at outside centre and even flyhalf as well, so he should get a run in the Currie Cup team in case of injuries.

Meanwhile, Bulls assistant coach Pine Pienaar said on Tuesday that while they are planning on using some URC players in this weekend’s game against Griquas and possibly against the Lions next week, player management will remain a priority.

Pienaar said that Jake

White’s ‘fantastic vision’ has created good synergy in their playing group.

“I think the vision Jake has is fantastic. I think having that synergy in the group is good,” Pienaar said.

“It is good that there is one plan – for example for defence – everyone is one the same page, then it doesn’t matter how the team looks.

“We see the Currie Cup as a very important competition to play in. We are not in the (Currie Cup) semi-finals yet. We have four games left, starting with a good challenge against Griquas.

“When we get closer to the Cheetahs game, coach Jake and coach Gert (Smal) will plan what to do. At the moment we are just looking at this weekend and our current planning.

“There will be guys resting this weekend, but there will also be some (United Rugby Championship) guys coming in.”

The Bulls are sixth on the URC standings and will travel to Wales to face Ospreys at the Swansea.com Stadium on May 20. Following their last URC game, White also hinted that they would use some players in the Currie Cup to keep them fresh during the break.