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Johannesburg - The first time Sharks' coach John Plumtree handed young Patrick Lambie the number 10 jersey, there was a noticeable change in the efficiency of the Sharks' backline.
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Lambie, who was then only 19-years-old, filled the void left by the departure of Argentine super star Juan-Martin Hernandez.
His performance in Saturday's Absa Currie Cup final against Western Province in Durban could well mean the difference between winning and losing.
Apart from his contribution with the boot, Lambie plays a central role in getting the Sharks' backline going and is a great reader of the game.
If Province are to win their first title since 2001, they will have to neutralise the pivot, who has shown great composure even when matched against players of international calibre.
However, getting to the "wunderkind" of KwaZulu-Natal rugby will not be an easy task as he is protected by some of the best loose-forwards in the country.
One only has to look at the Sharks' loss to the Blue Bulls - one of only four this season - in the competition's round-robin stage to see that the Sharks' most vulnerable area is in the channel Lambie and centre Andries Strauss have to protect.
That is why dominance at the scrums will also be of great importance for the home side.
Should they deny the visitors that all-important right shoulder, it will inevitably ensure that flank Keegan Daniel and eighthman Ryan Kankowski are in position to protect their flyhalf.
Both sides in the 50th final since 1939 have enough players who can produce match-winning moments.
Only Province have a finals specialist in wing Bryan Habana, who has become an habitual scorer at this stage of competitions.
Habana scored his first try in a Province jersey in his team's 31-7 dismantling of the Cheetahs in the semifinal and will look to add another on Saturday.
The former IRB Player-of-the-Year winner is also under pressure to prove that he is still the number one left wing in the county.
What better platform to silence his critics than a match of this importance?
Having reached their first Super 14 final earlier this year under coach Allister Coetzee, Province have gained the experience needed to pull through when it matters.
John Plumtree's men last featured in a final in 2008. This year, they have the better pack on paper.
However, Province's backline is packed with Springboks.
Apart from Currie Cup specialist Willem de Waal, the rest of the pacemen in the visiting side have been regular starters for the Boks.
The platform for destruction can be laid up front in the Du Plessis brothers, Jannie and Bismarck, coupled with the strength of Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira.
If the front-rowers do not produce the goods on the day, Province will find themselves in a position where their world class finishers can dictate matters.
What will be of great interest is the number of players these sides commit to the breakdown, as dominance at this facet is where the modern game is won.
Teams:Sharks:
15. Louis Ludik, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Stefan Terblanche (captain), 12. Andries Strauss, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Willem Alberts, 6. Keegan Daniel, 5. Alistair Hargreaves, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16. Craig Burden, 17. Eugene van Staden, 18. Anton Bresler, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Rory Kockott, 21. Andre Pretorius, 22. Riaan Swanepoel
Western Province:
15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Jean De Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Willem De Waal, 9. Ricky Januarie, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Francois Louw, 6. Schalk Burger (captain), 5. Anton van Zyl, 4. Adriaan Fondse, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. JD Moller
Replacements: 16. Hanyani Shimange, 17. JC Kritzinger, 18. De Kock Steenkamp, 19. Pieter Louw, 20. Dewaldt Duvenage, 21. Lionel Cronje, 22. Paul Bosch
