ABSA Stadium, Durban, 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
The Lions, as the Cats, have a terrible history against their rival South African teams, but they will be eager to start rewriting that log-book when they travel as the Lions to Durban to face what has been South Africa’s premier side of the year, the Sharks.
Sharks coach Dick Muir has said he is looking for the Sharks to finally display their potential of which they have shown only glimpses.
Off the back of a terribly disappointing loss to the Chiefs, the Sharks could crumble further, or they could return with a backlash of which the Lions will bear the brunt.
The Lions, after some early form, have shown a lack of grunt to finish the season against squads of greater depth.
Indeed their coach Eugene Eloff has lamented the lack of depth, noting his side is still in a building phase, and he may have to add some fresh talent to the pool he already has at his disposal.
But remember this is a Lions side that has put paid to the Force and the Crusaders so far this season, and the Sharks can under-estimate them at their peril.
Muir has mixed his combinations around slightly, notably dropping form player Bobby Skinstad to the bench to give the youthfully exuberant Ryan Kankowski another run.
Francois Steyn is also once again on the wing at the expense of Odwa Ndungane.
If the Sharks win this one, and the Bulls win theirs, all of a sudden they are in a commanding position to claim a home semi-final – they must bag the full house of log points this weekend, for a home semi-final is crucial to their title challenge this year.
The Sharks have often been seen as South Africa’s great hope for Super glory, and this must be the match they show the enterprise and the ruthlessness to that end.
Prediction: The Lions will roar, no doubt about that, there will be plenty of endeavour, but the Sharks should be too much for them. The home side must snap out of the ponderous state of play that has plagued them sporadically this season and allow no chink in their armour. Sharks by more than ten points.
Sharks: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Francois Steyn, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Bradley Barritt, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Butch James, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 AJ Venter, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller, 4 Johan Ackermann, 3 Deon Carstens, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 BJ Botha, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Warren Britz, 20 Bob Skinstad, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 Adrian Jacobs
Lions: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jaco Pretorius, 11 Jaco van Schalkwyk, 10 Andr’ Pretorius (c), 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Jacques Cronj’, 7 Ernst Joubert, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Geo Cronj’, 4 Cobus Grobler, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Bertus Smit, 18 Franco van der Merwe, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Doppies la Grange, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 Colin Lloyd.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa), Gareth Lloyd-Jones (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
