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Cape Town - Free State Cheetahs captain Adriaan Strauss says their game against Western Province at Newlands - his 50th Currie Cup game for the union - is probably the most important one he's been involved in.
The Cheetahs need a win to have any chance of making the semi-finals, but perhaps more important is the fact that a loss may leave them in danger of losing their top flight status.
Should they go down on Saturday the chances are good that they will end up at the bottom of the log, which would mean a promotion-relegation battle against the EP Kings.
"The match against WP is of immense importance... it's one we simply have to win," Strauss told Volksblad.
"We view our next three matches as finals. But for now our focus is on Saturday."
The 26-year-old, who impressed in the No 2 jersey for the Springboks in Bismarck du Plessis's absence - says it's a huge honour to play his 50th Currie Cup game at a field like Newlands.
"It will be very special," he said.
The clash at Newlands kicks off at 17:05 on Saturday.
Teams:
Western Province:
15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Don Armand, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Brok Harris, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Marcel Brache, 22 Gio Aplon
Free State Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Francois Uys, 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Marcel van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Ross Geldenhuys, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Philip Snyman, 22 Rayno Benjamin
The Cheetahs need a win to have any chance of making the semi-finals, but perhaps more important is the fact that a loss may leave them in danger of losing their top flight status.
Should they go down on Saturday the chances are good that they will end up at the bottom of the log, which would mean a promotion-relegation battle against the EP Kings.
"The match against WP is of immense importance... it's one we simply have to win," Strauss told Volksblad.
"We view our next three matches as finals. But for now our focus is on Saturday."
The 26-year-old, who impressed in the No 2 jersey for the Springboks in Bismarck du Plessis's absence - says it's a huge honour to play his 50th Currie Cup game at a field like Newlands.
"It will be very special," he said.
The clash at Newlands kicks off at 17:05 on Saturday.
Teams:
Western Province:
15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Don Armand, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Brok Harris, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Marcel Brache, 22 Gio Aplon
Free State Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Francois Uys, 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Marcel van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Ross Geldenhuys, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Philip Snyman, 22 Rayno Benjamin
