While the Tri-Nations title still hangs in the balance between the antipodeans, South Africa's premier domestic competition gets into full swing with the welcomed return of no less than 17 Springboks.

At a Western Province press conference this week, Jean de Villiers — who will captain his first WP Currie Cup side — admitted the Currie Cup played a "special part in South Africa's rugby heritage", even amongst international players of his calibre.

Thus, all eyes will be on the local circuit this weekend and onwards, as all eight provincial unions tap into their full player resource and move into the business end of the tournament.

The weekend's action kicks off on Friday evening, seeing two Highveld foes — namely the Falcons and the Lions — battle in out on the hardened turf of Bosman stadium, with the hosts no doubt looking to pose an upset.

The balance of the games take place on Saturday, with four of the 'big five' going head-to-head in some gruelling and evenly-weighted encounters.

The third-placed Cheetahs will play host to a revived WP — the latter having benefited the most from the Bok injection and boasting eight returning internationals to their starting XV.

It couldn't have come at a better time for the Cape side who have struggled in recent weeks, and will need the experience to turn their season around and fight for a play-off spot.

The Sharks host the log-leading Blue Bulls at Absa stadium on Saturday, as these two sides also boast a startling amount of quality and experience within their ranks.

This top-of-the-table clash will undoubtedly be a focal point for all and sundry.

Last but not least, let's not forget the 'minnows', who will be having a battle of their own while the nation descends on Durban. Boland pay a vist to Kimberley on Saturday, and will need to dig deep to stave off a Griquas onslaught at the venerable big hole.

Let's see what's in store this weekend...

Friday, 5 September

Falcons vs Lions
Bosman Stadium, Brakpan, 7.10pm (5.10pm GMT)

Despite sitting just one notch away from the pit of the competition log, the Falcons have had their best season in years. What's more impressive is their "points for" tally which has exceeded even WP, and can no doubt be attributed to their new brand of attacking rugby.

The flu-ridden Brakpan boys will have had a realistic assessment of their campaign objectives, which at this stage would be to avoid the wooden spoon. As long as they keep the tries ticking over, a potential loss to the Lions will be the least of their concerns.

The Lions thus go into this encounter looking to gain maximum points against less experienced opposition, as they carry a somewhat different season objective — to host the Currie Cup final.

"We have spent the week training hard and will be ready and prepared for Friday night," said a confident Lions coach Eugene Eloff.

"We are in a strong semifinal position and will be taking each game as it comes and will certainly be putting our all into each game.

"The focus is on each individual game at the moment, and on winning each game," he added.

Prediction: The Lions to win by 15 or more points.

Teams:

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

Lions:15 Jaco van Schalkwyk, 14 Michael Killian, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Trompie Nontshinga, 10 Earl Rose, 9 Chris Jonck, 8 Ernst Joubert, 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 Ross Geldenhuys, 18 Derick Minnie, 19 Justin Wheeler, 20 Walter Venter, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 Rayno Benjamin.

Referee: Marius Jonker
Touch judges: Gareth Lloyd-Jones, Peter de Bruin
TMO: Michael Cupido

Saturday, 6 September

Cheetahs vs WP
Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein, 3pm (1pm GMT)

The defending champion Cheetahs welcome back just two Boks to their attack, namely captain Juan Smith and hooker Adriaan Strauss.

Sitting in third position on the competition standings, the Free Staters will remember their previous loss to WP at a wet and dreary Newlands — motivation enough to put one over their Cape counterparts in conditions which suit them to a T.

WP has been the talk of the town this week with their bolstered Bok artillery. The national player-drain has possibly been WP's biggest setback this season, which their results have duly shown.

Jean de Villiers returns to the Province midfield this week and takes over the captaincy — a man looking to get his side back to winning ways.

"Momentum is very important, we want to get on the front foot and stay up," De Villiers told a media gathering this week.

"The Cheetahs are a very good side and they'll be tough to beat in Bloem - we'll have to play very well."

De Villiers also acknowledged the Cheetahs strengths on attack, and that defensive structures will be crucial for his side come Saturday.

"We've made a close study of the Cheetahs and they've scored some great tries this season — defence will be important," he said.

With regards to making the Currie Cup play-offs, however, the WP captain admitted that WP were still very much in a building phase.

"We still have a chance to make the semis, but we'll have to take it game by game. "It's also important to get some momentum though, as we look forward to playing a brand of rugby we can take into the Super 14," De Villiers added.

Prediction: WP will finally come to the party, and win by 5 or more points.

Teams:

Cheetahs: 15 Bevin Fortuin, 14 Wilton Pietersen, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Fabian Juries, 10 Tewis de Bruyn, 9 Neil Powell, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Juan Smith (captain), 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 David de Villiers, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Phillip Lemmer, 18 Nico Breedt, 19 Heinrich Brüssow, 20 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 21 JW Jonker, 22 Kabamba Floors.

Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Gcobani Bobo, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Sireli Naqelevuki, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Luke Watson, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 AJ Venter, 19 Nick Koster, 20 Bolla Conradie, 21 Joe Pietersen, 22 Wylie Human.

Referee: Phillip Bosch
Touch judges: Pro Legoete, Peet Badenhorst
TMO: Shaun Veldsman

Griquas vs Boland
Absa Park, Kimberley, 5pm (3pm GMT)

These two sides ended on a 9-9 draw in their previous encounter in Wellington, and going by recent results, one would think the Griquas have got this one in the bag after some impressive home performances.

Griquas coach Dawie Theron will also be aware of another motivational factor — that his side could potentially leap-frog WP on the tournament table should the Capetonians lose in Bloemfontein.

"Deny the opposition the ball and you can command the game," was Theron's simple yet sensible objective for Saturday.

Boland on the other hand have suffered a huge blow with the loss of their pivot, Isma-eel Dollie, along with a host of other injuries to key players.

The WP discard's setback put the icing on a bitter Cavalier cake — a struggling side who are currently sitting at the bottom of the log.

"It is really tough when your group of players is not that big. But I suppose it is something the so-called 'smaller unions' have to live with," said Boland coach Deon Davids, as he lamented his side's current predicament.

Prediction: Griquas to overwhelm the visiting Cavaliers by 15 or more points.

Teams:

Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Barry Geel, 12 Herkie Kruger, 11 MJ Mentz, 10 Conrad Barnard, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Heinrich Stride, 7 Stephan Gerber, 6 Gareth Krause (captain), 5 Brendon Snyman, 4 Wayne van Heerden, 3 Bees Roux, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 Regardt Dreyer.
Replacements: 16 James van der Walt, 17 Ruaan du Preez, 18 Rohan Kitshoff, 19 Jacques Lombaard, 20 Tobie Botes, 21 Jaco Bekker, 22 Naas Olivier.

Boland: 15 Justin Peach, 14 Cornell Hendricks, 13 Piet van Zyl (captain), 12 Lionel Cornelius, 11 Alvin Hugo, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Dries van Schalkwyk, 7 Angelo Brinkhuys, 6 Zolani Mofu, 5 Bradley Mockford, 4 Nico Esterhuizen, 3 WP Nel, 2 Harry Vermaas, 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Wium, 17 Jean Botha, 18 Cecil Kemp, 19 Whalied Heyns, 20 Neil Papier, 21 Deon Scholtz, 22 Renfred Dazel.

Referee: Deon van Blommestein
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper, Cobus Wessels

Sharks vs Blue Bulls
Absa Stadium, Durban, 5.05pm (3.05pm GMT)

After a notable injury spell, Johann Muller makes a favoured return to the captains table as he leads out a Sharks outfit gleaming with international experience for their Blue Bulls clash in Durban.

Sitting just one point behind the current log-leaders, the Durbanites have 'Shark Tank' advantage this weekend and are perfectly poised (considering their remaining games) to secure a home semifinal.

That all depends what the Bulls bring to the party, who are notorious killjoys in provincial opposition circles.

Amongst the Bulls' arsenal of Springbok gunners, Victor Matfield regains the Blue captaincy, whilst the 2007 IRB Player of the Year will undoubtedly be skirting the lime out wide.

A resurgent Pierre Spies will also take to the paddock in Saturday's crunch game at Absa stadium — one player determined to bring the Cup back to the Fort Loftus trophy cabinet.

"The guys have been working hard and we are very motivated to well, especially because we did not reach the Final last year," Spies told this website in an interview this week.

"We are determined to bring the Currie Cup back to Pretoria this year."

Sizing up the Bulls opposition this weekend however, Spies acknowledged the extent of the task ahead.

"They (the Sharks) are always a tough team, especially in Durban.

"They are getting a number of their top players back, so it certainly won't be an easy game — it is making it a bigger challenge and something we are looking forward to.

"We just want to produce a good game and hopefully bring home the points," Spies added.

Prediction: Blue Bulls to outclass the hosts by 5 points or more.

Teams:

Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Francois Steyn, 12 Bradley Barritt, 11 Waylon Murray, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller (captain), 4 Alistair Hargreaves, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Skipper Badenhorst, 1 Deon Carstens.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Patric Cilliers, 18 Steven Sykes, 19 Albert van den Berg, 20 Skholiwe Ndlovu, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 JP Pietersen.

Blue Bulls: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Wikus van Heerden, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Rayno Gerber, 18 Juandré Kruger, 19 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Dewald Potgieter.

Referee: Mark Lawrence
Touch judges: Theuns Jonker, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Johann Meuwesen

365