Durban - Sharks coach John Plumtree says they "are capable" of passing the tough test the Lions will pose in their top-of-the-table Currie Cup clash in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The two teams boast similar defensive records as they head into this match: The Lions conceding a shade over two tries per match, the Sharks bettering that slightly with just under two tries scored against them on average over the past six rounds and while they will look to delivering on defence, they also need to be on the offensive as well.

“I’ve been pleased with our defence,” Plumtree told Sharks website editor, Michael Marnewick.

“But we will be tested again big time because of the width that the Lions have to their game and they can also be blunt up the middle with their big ball-carriers. So we will have to be alert and scramble well.

“It’s important that we don’t come away from Joburg having made 180 to 200 tackles but we’ve also got to be in this game with our attack.

"We know we are capable of beating them and if they’re not as accurate as they’d like to be then you never know. We’re going up there with an open mind, we want to express ourselves and play for 80 minutes,” said Plumtree.

There is no surprise that the Lions are top of the log for a reason, with Plumtree pointing out that along with their defence and some productive attack; it has been their consistency that has produced the platform for success.

“Obviously they have the benefit of not losing too many players to the World Cup and that’s great for them. They have got some real continuity so it’s not surprising that they’re right up there.”

Plumtree is also happy to be able to call on some of his Springboks who failed to make the cut for the Rugby World Cup.

Wing Lwazi Mvovo, flank Jean Deysel, scrumhalf Charl McLeod and eightman Ryan Kankowski just missed out on the Bok squad.
 “It’s very good to have a big ball-carrier like Jean back with us and we all know what Lwazi can do, which is great,” said Plumtree.

Teams:

Golden Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Josh Strauss (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg

Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Warren Whiteley, 21 Doppies La Grange, 22 Burton Francis

Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik 14 Sibusiso Sithole 13 Stefan Terblanche 12 Meyer Bosman 11 Lwazi Mvovo 10 Frederic Michalak 9 Charl McLeod 8 Ryan Kankowski 7 Marcell Coetzee 6 Keegan Daniel (captain) 5 Ross Skeate 4 Anton Bresler 3 Wiehahn Herbst 2 Craig Burden 1 Dale Chadwick

Substitutes: 16 Kyle Cooper 17 Eugene van Staden 18 Jan Andre Marais 19 Jean Deysel 20 Jacques Botes 21 Conrad Hoffmann 22 Adrian Jacobs