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Johannesburg - An interesting weekend of Currie Cup rugby lies ahead with the Lions in particular on a mission at Coca-Cola Park to show that their beating of Western Province last weekend was no fluke.
But there are also other interesting clashes, including the one between last year's two finalists the Blue Bulls and the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, and the match between the Pumas and the Sharks in Witbank.
Although the Platinum Leopards are unlikely to come out on top or even seriously extend Western Province at Newlands, the Cape side will want to show that they now have the right combinations up front and at the back to compensate for the absence of Willem de Waal's prolific boot.
De Waal is rested this weekend and WP will hope that Lionel Cronje shows he can get the backline going.
The Bulls and the Cheetahs will slog it out in Bloemfontein as they try and move out of the congestion that presently marks the Currie Cup log.
The Bulls lost the first-round encounter in Pretoria in the dying seconds of the match.
They may have lost the right to play some of their top players who are in need of match time, like Bakkies Botha and Wynand Olivier, but have three Boks returning in the form of Francois Hougaard, Flip van der Merwe and Chiliboy Ralepelle.
The home side will rely heavily on their tight five and the boot of Louis Strydom. The experienced flyhalf, with 108 Currie Cup caps to his credit, has succeeded with his last 24 kicks at goal and is a big factor with his tactical kicking.
This could well be the match of the weekend, with the two sides having dominated the play-offs in recent years.
The Lions have a new confidence, as well as new skills, and have truly announced their presence in the competition. Their four-match winning streak is at the moment the most by any of the sides.
Coach John Mitchell, who has warned his charges that they cannot afford to get ahead of themselves at any stage, expects a tough battle.
"It is a tough competition and it will only get tougher because the stakes and the intensity will be higher, so we have to stick to what we are doing," Mitchell said.
Griquas, with more depth than last year, still have many injuries that could prove costly. However, they showed against the Cheetahs last week, when they came within five points, that they have the goods to surprise, even away from home.
The Pumas, meanwhile, have finally announced their arrival in the premier division. They might not have been too convincing when they struggled to finish the Leopards off in Potchefstroom last weekend, but they have a solid pack and a team that can score tries.
Their defence, however, holds the key. The Sharks are far ahead in the try-scoring tally, notching up 39 from their nine matches, and their attacking flair could be decisive.
While the Pumas are undoubtedly still on a steep learning curve, the Sharks will underestimate them at their peril.
In the first division, the SWD Eagles are at home to the Griffons in George. The hosts should start as favourites on paper, but the Griffons, after three close defeats, have bounced back and are on a roll. This one could go right down to the wire.
Four log points ahead of them are leaders EP Kings, who host the Boland Cavaliers on Friday night. Only a brave man would put money on the Cape side after a series of poor performances.
Fixtures:
Friday:
Premier Division: Pumas v Sharks, 7.10pm.
First Division: EP Kings v Boland, 7pm; SWD Eagles v Griffons, 7.05pm.
Saturday:
Premier Division: Xerox Lions v GWK Griquas, 3pm; Western Province v Platinum Leopards, 5pm; Cheetahs v Blue Bulls, 5.05pm
