Hugh Reece-Edwards (File)

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Johannesburg - The Sharks will need to find some winning form ahead of the Currie Cup playoffs if they hope to defend their title this season, according to the team's assistant coach, Hugh Reece-Edwards.

Last year's champions, lying third in the standings, face Griquas in Durban on Friday night, and will hope to recover from a 53-32 thumping against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last week.

"We can't go into the playoffs performing poorly," Reece-Edwards said.

"We are still in the top three and that's after playing both good and bad rugby.

"That shows that we have something, but we've also let ourselves down at times, and now we just need to get that belief back."

Griquas are fifth on the log, and Sharks head coach John Plumtree said they were eager for some revenge at home after going down 43-22 in Kimberley last month.

"Griquas are very capable - they've beaten some good sides in the competition this year, us included in the first round," Plumtree said.

"So we're not taking anything for granted just because we're playing at home.

"They've got some really outstanding players, like [Riaan] Viljoen and Sarel Pretorius, and then some big boys up front, so it will be a big test for us."

In Friday's other match, the Pumas host the Leopards in Nelspruit as the bottom feeders, both with only one win behind them from 10 games, go in search of much-needed points.

The Pumas have shown some fight this season, running a few of the bigger unions close in tight matches, and Leopards coach Leon Boshoff said they expected a tough clash from their hosts.

"With all our injuries, this game against the Pumas will be a very big test of character, but we've shown a lot of character so far this season and I'm confident the guys can do it again," Boshoff said.