Cape Town - Sharks coach, John Plumtree believes that Saturday’s Currie Cup final between the Sharks and the Lions will be a one-sided affair - in support.

The Sharks will travel to Coca-Cola Park having not won there this year, drawing with the Lions in the Super XV and losing their Currie Cup round robin match 28-19.

“The challenge for us is to successfully defend the Currie Cup away from home, under difficult circumstances,” Plumtree told Wednesday’s Die Burger.

Plumtree emphasised that the rest of the country are behind the Lions and that only the Sharks and its supporters are behind the team from Durban.

It will be the first time in Currie Cup history that a final will be played between to New Zealand coached teams, but Plumtree insists that’s where the similarities and familiarities end.

“This week we aren’t friends. There is definitely no love lost between us. We are both trying to rub each other’s noses in the dirt. There will definitely not be any friendly phone calls between us.

“We must play as a team from the very first moment. We know that the Lions will be doing that, but I hope that this will be a final where both teams function as a complete unit.

“You can see that the guys are in the right mindset to keep the cup. The Currie Cup is ours and we will not easily let go of it. I realise that the Lions will come at us with a tremendous onslaught. They see this as their big chance and are eager for success. It is something they do not know and want to savour it,” added Plumtree.

Meanwhile Sharks captain, Keegan Daniel believes that they cannot take anything for granted, but instead draw on the experiences of playing in previous Currie Cup finals to overpower their opponents.

“You do not want to solely rely on your reputation. We may be the champions, but we will still need to play like champions and deserve to win the cup.”

Teams:

Golden Lions:
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Doppies la Grange, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 CJ Van der Linde

Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse/JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Warren Whiteley, 19 Cobus Grobbelaar/Jaco Kriel, 20 Butch James, 21 Dylan des Fountain, 22 James Kamana

Sharks:
TBA