Currie Cup action continues over the weekend
The match will start at 5.15pm and will be the last fixture of the Currie Cup for the weekend.
Near neighbours Xerox Golden Lions will face off against Vodacom Blue Bulls at home in the Currie Cup fixture.
The match will be played at Emirates Airlines Park; which renewed their sponsorship with the Lions for the next five years.
The match will start at 5.15pm and will be the last fixture of the Currie Cup for the weekend.
The Lions have recorded good wins away from home and are now looking to beat their neighbours in the local derby in front of their home crowd. Roos Cronje will lead his troops against a strong teams from the Pretoria franchise.
Ivan van Zyl will lead the Blue Bulls, while UP Tuks flanker Fred Eksteen will make his Blue Bulls and Currie Cup debut.
Van Zyl will make a first start in the competition after playing off the bench twice so far and take the armband of injured Ruan Steenkamp.
Eksteen played his club rugby for UP Tuks before being named in the Blue Bulls Currie Cup wider squad and takes over from Steenkamp at the side of the scrum. The flanker will run out along with Dayan van der Westhuizen and Johan Grobbelaar, who were both elevated into the starting team for Saturday’s clash against the undefeated home side.
Van der Westhuizen replaces injured Simphiwe Matanzima, while Grobbelaar swops places with Jaco Visagie, who reverts to the bench.
Wian Vosloo moves into the starting team as well to replace injured Marco van Staden.
In a fifth change to the pack, Andries Ferreira will start at lock, with Adré Smith moving back to the bench after being named a late starter against Tafel Lager Griquas when Ferreira was ruled out before kick-off.
Coach Pote Human left the backline intact, bar the van Zyl swop with Embrose Papier, who will play off the bench.
Madot Makobela is the only newcomer on the bench, taking the place of van der Westhuizen.
Human said although his hand was forced, it should not dampen the enthusiasm to face their Gauteng neighbours.
“The injury bogey hit us hard and that a weekend where one would have wanted to play with all your main players fit and ready. That said, the likes of Fred worked hard all season and now gets the chance to show what he can do it. I would not have included him in our training squad in the first place if I did not trust his abilities,” said Human.
“We are now playing for pride and each player will have to show why they want to be part of this team in future.”
Van Zyl said the challenge is a huge one, but the team want to prove they belong.
“There are many ifs and buts when you look at our season, but ultimately the performances did not do justice to the effort of the coaching staff and the hopes of our supporters. We have two more rounds to redeem ourselves, and everyone is determined to do just that and finish the season with some dignity and pride restored.”
In the meantime, the Lions are one of the top teams in the competition and the race is on between the teams to notch up a spot in the semi-finals.
