Johannesburg – As this year's Currie Cup competition reaches the halfway mark, the teams will be looking for consistency.
With four matches done and dusted all the teams are almost square with four teams having won and lost two matches in the competition.
The Sharks are deservedly at the top of the log having won three of their four matches.
The coastal side could, however, see their position change when they face the bottom-of-the-log Griquas in Kimberley.
The Northern Province team have been somewhat of a bogey team for the Sharks in the diamond city as they have lost their last two matches there.
Both teams are fresh off solid victories last weekend with the Sharks beating the Cheetahs 34-32 while Griquas broke a three-match duck with a 42-32 victory over defending champion Golden Lions in Johannesburg.
Meanwhile, the Bulls and Lions will be looking to make up for their losses last weekend in the Jukskei derby at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The Bulls were demolished 42-6 by Western Province at Newlands last weekend and find themselves second-from-bottom on the log.
Interim Lions coach Johan Ackermann said this week the two sides found themselves in a similar position and they would be desperate to make amends for last weekend's disappointing performances.
“I think both teams are feeling the pressure in the sense that we slipped up on the weekend when nobody thought we would,” Ackermann said.
“There aren't a lot of games to make mistakes anymore. The must wins will start building-up, but we are not in that situation yet.
“The team that is consistent is the team that will go all the way.”
His counterpart at the Bulls, Pine Pienaar shared his sentiments, adding that time was slowly running out for all the teams.
“The Lions are currently the Currie Cup holders and they lost a game against Griquas where they didn't play well, the same as us, they will definitely be up for the weekend,” Pienaar said.
The Lions have distinguished themselves as the top scrumming team in the competition and it should be a key area of the match.
Meanwhile, the Free State Cheetahs will have to overcome the disappointment of letting victory over the Sharks slip last weekend when they take on Western Province in Bloemfontein.
The Capetonians should be buoyed from their impressive ousting of the Bulls in the Mother City.
The Cheetahs, however, welcome back renowned openside flanker Heinrich Brussow.
With the breakdown area currently dominating discussions surrounding the Springbok team, Brussow would be keen to impress the national selectors. – Sapa