Sharks centre Bradley Barritt has recovered from a shoulder injury and is confident his team can still make the Super 14 semifinals, despite sitting in sixth position with two rounds left.

He admits that the results in the latter part of their overseas tour were not quite what they had wanted to achieve, but that they have the opportunity to make amends in the next fortnight.

"Towards the end we didn't do as well as we would have liked to," he told sharkrugby.co.za.

"We obviously put ourselves under pressure but it's a great opportunity now with these next two weeks that our destiny is still in our own hands, so we just have to make the most of it," added Barritt.

Despite Barritt claiming their destiny is in their own hands, the Sharks will need the teams above them to lose at least one of their two remaining games to have a chance of making the play-offs.

"Going into the final weeks of the tournament, like the last two years of the Super 14, there are still plenty of teams who can make the cut-off," said Barritt.

"There are a lot of teams still in with a shot and that's what makes this tournament so exciting, that anyone on any day can beat anyone else. So I think if we just stick to our own game and not worry about the other results, hopefully it will all fall into place," added the centre.

The Cheetahs may be in 13th spot but with nine bonus points, show that they have never been far from achieving results.

However, with 44 tries conceded, they do have a tendency to leak tries despite their attacking potential. Barritt reckons both sides will play an exciting brand of rugby on Saturday.

"I think it will be a very attacking game, from both sides," explained Barritt.

"The Cheetahs obviously have nothing to lose and we definitely need the five points, so it should be an attacking, expansive game, a nice one for the crowd," he added.

Barritt knows that the pressure is on the Sharks — last year they finished top of the log and this year were coasting along nicely after eight games unbeaten until their path took an unexpected turn.

"That's the thing about this tournament," he said.

"Week in and week out, you have to be on top of your game. We were taught a bit of a lesson the last couple of weeks and I think it is up to us now to turn it around.

"There's no better time with two games left before the semifinals so if it's going to turn around it has to be this week," he added.

Just as disappointed as the players are, so he sympathises with the fans.

"They are loyal supporters and we are happy for that, but it's now up to us to turn it around and hopefully put a smile on their faces," said Barritt.

"The team is looking good," explains Barritt. "The guys have been training hard, there is a lot of focus and energy. We really want to show this week that we are real contenders in the tournament," he concluded.

365