This weekend marks the first round of second-leg encounters between the provincial unions, bar the Blue bulls and Griquas, as the Currie Cup moves into the business end of the competition.

All eyes will no doubt be on the Springbok Test in Johannesburg on Saturday for the Mandela Tribute Test against Argentina. Though not without the South African faithful having had a wholesome starter's portion of quality local rugby, with all four games scheduled for kick-off on Friday.

The first of these sees the Cavaliers take on the Falcons in Boland late on Friday afternoon. The Falcons may well remember how they threw away a late home lead in their previous Cavaliers encounter, and will be singing retribution before they run out at Boland stadium.

Next up is the Cheetahs taking on the Griquas in Bloemfontein — with the Griquas coming off a heavy home defeat to the Sharks a week ago, they'll need to raise their game significantly against this ruthless Cheetahs outfit.

The Blue Bulls meet the Lions at Fort Loftus in the first of the weekend's two "big five" clashes. Nothing quite equals a trans-Jukskei derby, as the Lions will want to continue their recent form and look to humble the irrepressible log-leaders in their hostile backyard.

The second of the "big five" match-ups sees the Sharks travel to the fairer Cape in their rematch with a struggling Western Province (WP). The Sharks out-class WP on paper, but there's no telling what this wounded Cape side have in store on their beloved home ground.

This weekend's fixture details are as follows:

Friday, 8 August

Boland vs Falcons
Boland Stadium, Wellington, 4pm (2pm GMT)

Boland have just come off a narrow defeat to a rampant Cheetahs outfit, proving just how difficult the playing conditions can be at Boland Stadium.

The Cavaliers will therefore hope local knowledge might once again work in their favour, as Piet van Zyl returns to lead his team's attempt to record their second victory of the season — against the same side that gave them their first.

The Falcons are currently sitting two table positions above the Cavaliers, though will need to pull this one off if they hope to maintain the 'minnow' status quo.

Falcons coach Rudy Joubert has made drastic wholesale changes to his side this week, no doubt taking the above stakes, and unpredictable Cape playing conditions, into careful consideration.

Prediction: Boland to win by 8 points.

Teams:

Boland Cavaliers: 15 Justin Peach, 14 Danwel Demas, 13 Piet van Zyl (captain), 12 Lionel Cornelius, 11 Alvin Hugo, 10 Isma-eel Dollie, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Dries van Schalkwyk, 7 Whalied Heyns, 6 Zolani Mofu, 5 Bradley Mockford, 4 Nico Esterhuyze, 3 WP Nel, 2 Clemen Lewis, 1 Jean Botha.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Wium, 17 Janro van Niekerk, 18 Cecil Kemp, 19 Angelo Brinkhuys, 20 Neil Papier, 21 Kobus Meintjes, 22 Elgar Watts.

Falcons: 15 Johan Jackson, 14 Ernie Kruger, 13 Rouan Cloete, 12 Hanno Coetzee, 11 Dewald Pretorius, 10 Len Olivier, 9 Gerrie Odendaal, 8 Sean Plaatjies, 7 Reg Muller, 6 Warren Perkins, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Wouter Moore, 3 Nico Pretorius, 2 Jody Jeneker, 1 Frik Venter.
Replacements: 16 Gavin Whittingham, 17 Rassie van Vuuren, 18 Rayno Barnes, 19 Ruhan van Jaarsveld, 20 Johan de Bruin, 21 Poerie van Rooyen, 22 Jeff Perkins.

Referee: Deon van Blommestein
Touch judges: Jerome America, Linston Manuels

Cheetahs vs Griquas
Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein, 6pm (4pm GMT)

Second on the log in a three-way tie for top spot, the Cheetahs continue to impose their champion form for this Central Unions derby.

With just one change to the side that scraped a victory in horrid Boland conditions last week, Naka Drotske's boys return to their backyard to re-instil their dominance in Currie Cup circles and secure a seemingly feasible five points.

The seventh-placed Griquas on the other hand lose the home advantage that almost caused an upset in their previous encounter with the Cheetahs.

It seems a plague of injury has swept Kimberley in recent weeks, though all eyes will be on Griquas newest WP recruit at pivot, the venerable Naas Olivier, to see if he might be able to steer his new team away from any sizeable defeat.

Prediction: Cheetahs to win by 18 points.

Teams:

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Bevin Fortuin, 14 Eddie Fredericks, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Fabian Juries, 10 Chris Rossouw, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Kabamba Floors, 6 Hendro Scholtz (captain), 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 David de Villiers, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Richard Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Riaan Kruger, 17 Phillip Lemmer, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Schalk van der Merwe, 20 Neil Powell, 21 JW Jonker, 22 Wilton Pietersen.

Griquas: 15 Bjorn Basson, 14 Gavin Passens, 13 Lafras Uys, 12 Riaan Viljoen, 11 MJ Mentz, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Heinrich Stride, 7 Wayne van Heerden, 6 Gareth Krause (captain), 5 Cilliers Coetzer, 4 Brendon Snyman, 3 Ruaan du Preez, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 Albertus Buckle.
Replacements: 16 James van der Walt, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Jacques Lombaard, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Dougie Helmuth, 21 Egon Seconds, 22 Conrad Barnard.

Referee: JC Fortuin
Touch judges: Marius Jonker, Peter de Bruin

Blue Bulls vs Lions
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, 7.10pm (5.10pm GMT)

With a game in hand after their bye two weeks ago, the Blue Bulls have still managed to top the Currie Cup standings thanks to some strong and consistent performances.

Gurthrö Steenkamp's return will no doubt inspire the boys in Blue to raise their game a notch further, as coach Frans Ludeke has opted for a five-two bench in anticipation of a physical onslaught from their traditional Highveld rivals.

"It was a tactical decision as we know where the Lions' strengths are," said Ludeke.

"We also want to make sure that we have force — especially in the last 30 minutes — in the scrum," he added.

The Lions, however, are on a high after their drubbing of WP last weekend, and are only a sniff away from the Bulls on the tournament standings.

The return of their Super 14 captain has undoubtedly boosted team morale even further, as this Lions side continues to grow in confidence, as well as continuity with regards to team selection.

Prediction: Blue Bulls to win a hard-fought encounter by 6 points.

Teams:

Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 John Mametsa, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 JP Joubert, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 Wikus van Heerden (captain), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Rayno Gerber, 18 Francois van Schouwenburg, 19 Jaco Engels, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Jacques Burger.

Lions: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Michael Killian, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Earl Rose, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Gerhard Mostert, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 Lawrence Sephaka, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Gert Muller, 18 Ernst Joubert, 19 Justin Wheeler, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 Jaco van Schalkwyk.

Referee: Craig Joubert
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper, Cobus Wessels

Western Province vs Sharks
Newlands, Cape Town, 7.10pm (5.10pm GMT)

The Sharks possibly have the most potent squad on paper this weekend, thanks to the release of some Springbok stars coming in to bolster the Durban outfit's return match against an embattled WP.

"We should have the best of the panel here," coach John Plumtree told this website.

"Obviously having Ruan (Pienaar), Frans (Steyn) and Odwa (Ndungane) back eases the pressure in terms of backs, and now Brad (Barritt) looks like he's going to get some game time at the weekend.

"Having those four players back gives us a massive boost in terms of experience," Plumtree added.

WP haven't lost a home game, however, and coming off a rather unsuccessful away leg of their Currie Cup campaign, will want to use their Newlands precedent to make amends — coach Allister Coetzee knowing full well that his side will need to match the Sharks in the midfield, and more importantly, in the loose trio.

"Joe (Pietersen) was our back-up to Peter Grant in the Super 14, and has the boot and the core skills to do well at flyhalf," explained Coetzee.

"He's in form and he has the confidence to do well against the Sharks.

"Pieter Louw is hungry and he's fit and we are confident about this [loose trio] combination. Nick (Köster) had a fantastic game last week, but success this Friday will depend on the success of our loose forwards as a combination," Coetzee added.

Prediction: Sharks to outclass their hosts by 8 points.

Teams:

Western Province: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Wylie Human, 13 PJ Vermeulen, 12 Gcobani Bobo (captain), 11 Tonderai Chavhanga, 10 Joe Pietersen, 9 Bolla Conradie, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt/Deon Fourie, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 AJ Venter, 19 Conraad Britz, 20 Dewaldt Duvenhage, 21 Matthew Rosslee, 22 Morgan Newman.

Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Chris Jordaan, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Keegan Daniel/Nikolai Blignaut, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller (captain), 4 Albert van den Berg, 3 Jannie du Plessis/BJ Botha, 2 Skipper Badenhorst, 1 Deon Carstens.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 BJ Botha/Jannie du Plessis, 18 Steven Sykes, 19 Skholiwe Ndlovu, 20 Scott Mathie, 21 Bradley Barritt, 22 Riaan Swanepoel.

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Touch judges: Phillip Bosch, Marc van Zyl

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