Cape Town - Blue Bulls loose forward sensation CJ Stander says they have the right mentality to mount a late-season comeback and reach the semi-finals of the Currie Cup.
The men from Pretoria are currently in sixth position on the log standings, five points adrift of the fourth placed Free State Cheetahs and 18 behind the table topping Lions - their next opponents.
But Stander - who's been a revelation at eighthman for the Bulls this season, says the confidence at the union is still there and they believe they are in with a shot in the competition.
Stander's optimism may not be so far-fetched. They have shown an upward curve in their last two matches, first drawing with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein and then ousting their arch rivals, Western Province, at fortress Loftus last week.
Stander believes the win over WP has given them a big boost.
"We view every game like a final. We know we got ourselves into this position. Before Saturday's game against WP you could see on the guys' faces there awaits a big one. Psychologically it (the win) was a big victory," Stander told the Beeld newspaper.
However, they will be firmly tested against a quality Golden Lions outfit at Coca-Cola Park this weekend. The Lions have lost only once this season in the Currie Cup, but Stander is confident that statistic could change come Saturday.
"We are in this series to win it and our culture is a winning culture. I think we can do it."
The men from Pretoria are currently in sixth position on the log standings, five points adrift of the fourth placed Free State Cheetahs and 18 behind the table topping Lions - their next opponents.
But Stander - who's been a revelation at eighthman for the Bulls this season, says the confidence at the union is still there and they believe they are in with a shot in the competition.
Stander's optimism may not be so far-fetched. They have shown an upward curve in their last two matches, first drawing with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein and then ousting their arch rivals, Western Province, at fortress Loftus last week.
Stander believes the win over WP has given them a big boost.
"We view every game like a final. We know we got ourselves into this position. Before Saturday's game against WP you could see on the guys' faces there awaits a big one. Psychologically it (the win) was a big victory," Stander told the Beeld newspaper.
However, they will be firmly tested against a quality Golden Lions outfit at Coca-Cola Park this weekend. The Lions have lost only once this season in the Currie Cup, but Stander is confident that statistic could change come Saturday.
"We are in this series to win it and our culture is a winning culture. I think we can do it."