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WP now stronger mentally

Cape Town - Western Province captain Tiaan Liebenberg feels their away win over the Sharks last week will make their trip to Johannesburg easier from a psychological perspective.

Province take on the table-topping Golden Lions in a crucial Currie Cup encounter at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday - a first in Currie Cup rugby at the venue for many of their young guns.

But Liebenberg believes mentally they are now in a better state ahead of another daunting away trip.

"When we went up to Loftus recently and lost to the Bulls, it was a first for many of the guys and it was a shock.

"But then last week we went with this WP-team to Durban and beat the Bok-laden Sharks 15-10. That gives one tremendous confidence to win another away game in this phase of the season," Liebenberg told Die Burger.

While acknowledging they have overcome that mental barrier of winning a tough game away from home, the Province captain still expects - as always - a tough game from a rugby perspective.

"The Lions are paying better by the week and one could see against the Cheetahs they are still hungry to win (they fought back from 25-11 down with five minutes to go to draw). But we are going to Johannesburg for a victory and nothing less."

The Capetonians are currently fourth on the log standings with 36 points - only three ahead of the resurging Blue Bulls in fifth spot and nine adrift of the Lions in top spot.

The Bulls play Griquas in Kimberley and finish their round-robin campaign at home against the Leopards, while WP finish against the Pumas at home. Therefore, a win this week is of essence for the men from Cape Town as the Bulls are expected to bag two wins from their remaining two clashes.

Teams:

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 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss (captain), 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg

Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 David Bulbring, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Burton Francis, 21 Dylan des Fountain, 22 James Kamana

Western Province:

15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Marcel Brache, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage/Nic Groom, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Nick Fenton-Wells, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (captain), 1 JC Kritzinger

Substitutes: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Frans Malherbe, 18. Hilton Lobberts, 19. Nizaam Carr, 20. Pieter Louw, 21. Nic Groom/Louis Schreuder, 22. Johann Sadie

* Click HERE for the latest Currie Cup odds on BET.CO.ZA
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