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Cape Town - A mere three weeks ago the Stormers were one of the favourites to win the 2009 Super 14 title. On Saturday they will run out at Loftus to face the unbeaten Bulls under tremendous pressure to win only their second match of the season and already with utterances from coach Rassie Erasmus that he is prepared to resign.
This match is the big one from a South African perspective. But as important is the match on Saturday between the Sharks, present favourites to win the title, against the Blues who were victors over the Stormers last weekend.
The Cheetahs, under pressure after three consecutive defeats and especially last weekend's awful showing against the Reds, have on the face of it decided that they cannot beat the Hurricanes at New Plymouth, with ten changes to their losing side against the Reds.
The Stormers have last beaten the Bulls in 2004, although they gave them a good scrap last season in going down 16-9. But that was then.
The Bulls are on a roll - a seemingly unstoppable roll, it seemed in each of their three matches' first half to date, only for them to relax in the second half.
Their forwards have, like the great Bulls side of the past, been awesome.
They have pace, aggression, skill and cohesion. They also have, in Fourie du Preez, the best scrumhalf in the world, and arguably the best tactical - and most underrated - flyhalf in South Africa in Morne Steyn. And very good loose forwards and outside backs.
They would've been outright favourites had it not been for the return of Willem de Waal and his boot to the Stormers lineup. With more limitations and less flair than Peter Grant, he has the ability to force the Bulls to turn around.
Expect him to try and exploit new 19-year-old Gerhard van den Heever on the left wing, just as Steyn will bombard retreaded young Stormers flank Nick Koster on the opponents' wing. Also expect the Bulls to pout as much pressure on De Waal as they can.
He holds the key, with the Bulls pack, although a single line break by a rugby genius like Jean de Villiers, or one of the devastating runs by Pierre Spies could of course also swing it. And with all the talent around them, there are others in both teams who could perform such a winning act.
In the end, however, the Bulls pack who toil as an unit of eight whereas the Stormers are more individualistic, should swing it - unless overconfidence trips them up.
The Sharks showed guts and beat the Chiefs with unbelievable defence in the last 10 minutes last week in Hamilton. However, they never should've been in a position to hold out for victory.
They will aim to finish their opportunities with greater precision. The under-strength Bulls annihilated by the Bulls, showed their quality in beating the Stormers the following week.
There will be some outstanding individual confrontations, like the Blues centres Jamie Helleur and Anthony Tuitavake against Francois Steyn and Adi Jacobs; the Sharks loose trio against Justin Collins, Josh Blackie and Jerome Kaino; and an All Black front row of Tony Woodcock, captain Keven Mealamu and John Afoa up against the various Sharks permutations.
And they've had the good news that abrasive All Blacks lock Ali Williams is fit - perfect timing as Anthony Boric has been sidelined with an elbow stress fracture.
Despite being on a high, and a team that has the confidence of winning abroad, the Sharks have won only three matches from nine in Auckland.
"It's a huge challenge for us. and Eden Park is a very difficult place to play rugby. If we want to beat them, we have to be at our absolute best," Sharks captain Johann Muller said to the Sharks website.
The Cheetahs versus Hurricanes match in New Plymouth, one feels, will be fairly easy passage for the home side on Saturday.
The goings-on about coach Naka Drotske's personal life; the return to Bloemfontein of their star player and captain Juan Smith because of heat exhaustion; three comprehensive defeats on the trot; and ten changes against a side that resisted a major rotation of their players do not bode well for what the Free State franchise.
The Chiefs, although they lost their first home match against the Sharks last weekend, will have taken a lot of confidence from the 22-17 defeat - and on Friday they're at home in Hamilton against the Western Force who against all the odds beat the Brumbies in Round Three.
The Force are now one of the top four - and they have played good enough rugby to be a threat - even in Hamilton. However, Chiefs captain Liam Messam feels his side will turn it around in this match - and he could just be right. They have enough quality, and a win will significantly improve their log position where they are now only 12th.
Also on Friday, the Waratahs will be favourites to extend their run to five wins against the Reds in Sydney.
The Reds trounced an out-of-sorts Cheetahs side in tremendous heat last weekend. However, they did not really impress enough to give them much of a chance against a side that has been playing a game of effectiveness that makes them look like early strong challengers for the title.
Champions Crusaders have only one win from three outings, but they have been pipped right on the hooter in their two losses and, despite still looking for total cohesion after their many quality player losses, should be too good for the Highlanders.
The Otago side have so far competed above expectation without really giving the impression that they will take the spoils in any of their three lost matches. That should again be the case at the (former) House of Pain on Saturday.
The weekend's fixtures (home teams first, SA times): Friday: Chiefs v Western Force, 8.35am; Waratahs v Reds, 10.40am.
Saturday: Hurricanes v Cheetahs, 4.30am; Blues v Sharks, 6.30am; Highlanders v Crusaders, 8.35am; Bulls v Stormers, 5pm.
