The defending Currie Cup Premier Division champions, the Airlink Pumas, are leading the race as the competition enters the second half of the league phase this weekend and will be looking to increase the gap between themselves and the chasing pack.
The Airlink Pumas extended their lead at the top of the standings when they edged DHL Western Province in Nelspruit last week, and may be favourites to topple the Fidelity ADT Lions when they travel to Johannesburg on Friday. The Airlink Pumas won the previous match-up 34-27 in Mpumalanga.
The Fidelity ADT Lions have lost their last three matches and will be desperate to bounce back. The injection of eleven star players, who are no longer required for Vodacom United Rugby Championship duty, should boost their cause.
Fidelity ADT Lions head coach Mzwakhe Nkosi has made several changes to his starting lineup. Only Prince Nkabinde, Travis Gordon, Darrien-Lane Landsberg and Captain Jaco Visagie survived the expected cut. JC Pretorius will get his first start of the Currie Cup campaign with 11 URC players who were included in the starting XV who recently did duty last week against Zebre Parma
Lock Darrien Landsberg will once again come face-to-face with his former team. The versatile forward still rates the Currie Cup highly and believes his side has it all to do as the tournament enters the next phase towards play-offs.
Airlink Pumas head coach Jimmy Stonehouse has made four changes to his starting lineup to travel to Johannesburg.
Jaco Labuschagne, Andre Fouche and Ruwald van der Merwe are the new-looking loose forward combination.
At the back, coach Jimmy has shuffled the positions a bit while in the only personnel change is Lundi Msenge who is promoted from the bench replacing Diego Appolis.
Teams:
Fidelity ADT Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee; 14 Prince Nkabine, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Sibahle Maxwane, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Travis Gordon, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), Rhynhardt Runsburger. Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Kayden Kiewit, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Vaughen Isaacs, 23 Stean Pienaar.
Airlink Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Stefan Coetzee, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Lundi Msenge, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Giovan Snyman, 8 Ruwald van der Merwe, 7 Andre Fouche, 6 Jaco Labuschagne, 5 Shane Kirkwood (captain), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Njabulo Gumede, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Cameron Dawson. Replacements: 16 PJ Jacobs, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Simon Raw, 19 Jeandre Leonard, 20 Franna Kleinhans, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Andrew Kota.