In George they are so excited about the prospects of flanker Kabamba Floors that Eagles coach Johann Lerm is predicting the 22-year-old will follow Anton Leonard by becoming the province's next Springbok.
The abilities of the No 6 are reflected in Currie Cup try-scoring statistics. Floors is among the top forward scorers of the competition with six tries this season.
Floors, who made his Currie Cup debut against the Sharks, has played only seven games for the Eagles this season, which gives him one of the best strike rates in the competition. His record is particularly impressive considering the Eagles are rooted to the bottom of the log.
Western Province, who host the Eagles in the final group game at Newlands on Saturday, will remember Floors from George last month when his powerful running was a feature of a game that saw the home side competitive for 70 minutes until they fell flat and Province won 59-41.
With barely three minutes on the clock, Floors fielded an up-and-under and ran menacingly on the counter-attack at the WP defence to set up a move that put wing Ricardo Pietersen through for the first of his three tries.
It was a game that epitomised the enthusiasm of teams such as the Eagles to make an impact against their city cousins when players are motivated to catch the eye and possibly secure a Super 12 call-up to the Stormers.
Floors, who was playing only his second Currie Cup game in the fixture against WP at the Outeniqua Stadium, said of the experience: "I enjoyed the game thoroughly and it was very challenging to play Western Pro-vince in the Currie Cup."
Since then the only game he has missed was against the Lions, when he sat out with a shoulder injury.The Eagles are particularly proud that Floors is a home-grown product, originally from Oudtshoorn and a player who graduated to the senior side through the under-19 and under-21 teams.
Saturday will be only his second game at Newlands after he played there in the Vodacom Cup earlier this season and he said of the prospect of facing WP in his first Currie Cup game in Cape Town: "I am not afraid of it. It is an opportunity to end the season on a high note and make an impact before so many spectators at a great stadium."
The game is of critical importance to a Western Province side who are not only saying goodbye to Hottie Louw, Robbie Fleck and Cobus Visagie on an occasion that will also be Adri Badenhorst's 50th game. There is also the matter of WP needing five log points to leapfrog the Sharks into second on the log to make next Saturday's Currie Cup final. That is if the Sharks do not beat Free State in Bloemfontein and bank five points from a game that kicks off before the Newlands clash.
Free State coach Peet Kleynhans said his side was keen to go out with a bang in the last game of the season. "It is nice to have the whole of Western Province supporting us this weekend and we will be up for it," the coach said.
Free State will be without flank Marco Wentzel, who has fractured ribs, and wing Anton Pitout, who is sidelined with a foot injury.
Western Province:
Gaffie du Toit, Egon Seconds, Robbie Fleck, Gus Theron, Pieter Rossouw (capt), Chris Rossouw, Bolla Conradie, Adri Badenhorst, Hendrik Gerber, Pietie Ferreira, Hottie Louw, Quinton Davids, Cobus Visagie, Tjoepie van den Heever, Daan Human. Bench: Pieter Dixon, Eddie Andrews, Rob Linde, Pierre Uys, Ashieq Wise, Joos Joubert, Leon van den Heever
SWD Eagles:
Bevan Fortuin, Jeremy Plaatjies, Ricardo Pietersen, Gavin Hulme, Darryl Coeries, Donovan Raw, Noel Oelschig (capt), Hendry Rheeder, Barry Jacobsz, Kabamba Floors, Bloues Volschenk, Randile Julies, Flippie Spies, Rich Verster, Connie Botha. Bench: Tommie Webb, Eugene Maqwelana, Jaco du Toit, Andre Swanepoel, Heini Adams, Phillip Burger, Manie du Toit
Referee: Jamiel Panday
Kick-off: 5pm
Saturday's Currie Cup fixtures:
Newlands: WP v SWD Eagles (5pm)
Ellis Park: Lions v Griquas (5pm)
Bloemfontein: Free State v Natal Sharks (3pm, live on M-Net)
Pretoria: Blue Bulls v Pumas (3pm, live on SABC2)