The Free State Rugby Union, who find themselves hosting a Currie Cup final for the first time in 12 years, are feeling the pressure as public interest in Saturday's final between the Cheetahs and the Blue Bulls threatens to swamp them.
On Thursday, president Harold Verster denied reports that the union had sold 6 000 tickets more than the 3 000 capacity of the Bloemfontein stadium.
But fans are still queueing at the stadium - some demanding tickets, and others worried that their tickets aren't valid for the final.
The Blue Bulls arrive in Bloemfontein on Friday morning expecting a sea of orange flags and a home team trying to intimidate them by making as much of the home advantage as possible.
There have been reports some fans bought hundreds of tickets and are reselling them on the black market. In Thursday's local newspaper, tickets were being sold for up to R6 000 a pair through private classified advertisements.
Every hotel, lodge, guesthouse and bed-and-breakfast place in the Free State capital is fully booked for the game. Some fans have even taken accommodation as far away as Colesberg and Kroonstad.
- Former National Public Prosecutions Director Bulelani Ngcuka, the husband of deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and an avid rugby fan, has indirectly become the big empowerment partner of the Blue Bulls through a massive deal with the rugby entity's biggest shareholders.
Ngcuka's empowerment company Vuwa has emerged as the new partner of South African Investments Limited (Sail), and if the deal is approved will become a direct shareholder in the Blue Bulls Company as well. Sail holds a 50 percent interest in the Blue Bulls, as well as several other sporting investments, including a 24,9 percent shareholding of Western Province Rugby.
Vuwa have bought a 47,4 percent stake in Sail from Sactwu Investments, which was the dominant shareholder when Sail delisted from the JSE in 2005. The deal is now before the Competitions Board and has been valued at around R50-million.