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Johannesburg - While his team go in search of a home semifinal, Lions captain Joshua Strauss says they expect a stiff challenge from the Blue Bulls in their Currie Cup derby at Ellis Park on Saturday.
"Obviously, it's a big derby and it's always a big challenge for us," Strauss said.
"The guys look forward to it, no matter where we are or where they are on the log, and we always know the Bulls are going to come for us.
"It's a big game and we have to man up and rise to the challenge."
The Lions, 10 points clear at the top of the standings ahead of the weekend matches, have lost only one game this season.
The Bulls, however, are languishing in sixth place and will be desperate to bag some much-needed points against the runaway leaders.
Bulls coach Pine Pienaar said they remained confident of a place in the playoffs, but could not rely on the smaller unions causing upsets to pave the way for them.
"We cannot look at other teams and hope for them to do us any favours," Pienaar said.
"We need to knuckle down and beat the Lions, because only then we will remain in control of our destiny."
Western Province, meanwhile, will hope fringe players step up to the task against the Free State Cheetahs in Cape Town.
Plagued by injuries this season, Province lost three more players this week -- Steven Kitshoff, Nic Groom and Isma-eel Dollie -- and assistant coach Matthew Proudfoot said their replacements would have a chance to prove themselves to head coach Allister Coetzee.
"From the team's perspective, we need to look at the positives and see that it is an opportunity for another guy to put his hand up and take his chance in the side," Proudfoot said.
"In that sense, Allister has handled the situation really well and credit goes to him.
"If we had a different approach, we may not have handled the situation, so that is definitely a positive."
Province were second in the table, leading the Sharks only on points difference, ahead of the 11th round of matches.
The fourth-placed Cheetahs, unbeaten in their last three games, will hope to build on their momentum and close the gap on the top three teams in the competition.
