Sharks will provide answers

Johannesburg - The Lions' impressive performance in their win against the Cheetahs last weekend will be tested by one of the favourites to win the competition this year when they play the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

This match will be the general South African focus, although Stormers supporters will watch their team's performance against the Reds at Newlands on Friday night to see if there is any improvement in their play.

The Bulls play a weakened Blues side at Loftus on Saturday, and on Friday 12:45p (SA time) the Cheetahs will try and break their tour duck when they play the Force in Perth.

** The Lions looked well-drilled, handled well and finished quite well. In fact, in the first half against the Cheetahs they looked really good. A sceptic would ask whether it was just a flash in the pan or whether the Cheetahs played poorly.

And they'll point to the second half when the Cheetahs fought back magnificently to even matters up with minutes to go.

The Sharks will answer the uncertainties. They will exploit the Lions lineout if it has not improved dramatically, and they will tax them to the full in the race for the breakdown ball - where Cobus Grobbelaar was outstanding last weekend and will be measured against the best in the competition with big Willem Alberts' ball carrying skills a good counter for the Sharks' Jean Deyzel.

Of particular interest will be the scrum contest between the Lions' Heinke van der Merwe and Springbok Jannie du Plessis, and Jaque Fourie's tussle with last year's surprise package for the Boks, Adi Jacobs, will also be a highlight.

Despite last year's somewhat fortunate 16-8 win, the Sharks should add another win to their good start against a team that looks more competitive than last year and will spring a few surprises.

** The Stormers should not have too much of a headache beating the Reds, who are a very average side with lots of promise and plenty of guts in their young team. The home side's style of running every ball from everywhere could boomerang against a side that thrives on the counter, but it would come as a surprise if the Stormers make heavy weather of this match.

Of interest will be their tight five's performance - and whether lock Andries Bekker has learnt where the loose scrum is.

** The Bulls have decided on a style of play that will not please everyone - but then, that was the case in their golden era as well. Expect many high kicks, good following up, structure from the ensuing phases and a solid win against the Blues who are unsettled because of injury and other unavailability reasons.

Coach Pat lam has made eight changes to the side which beat the Force, and the Blues also have the unsettling knowledge that they have won only once from eight tries in Pretoria.

Their win against the Force last week was an obvious plus for the visitors, but if the Bulls scrum like they did last week and use the ball well enough while keeping mistakes to a minimum, they should add another four points to remain unbeaten.

Their test will be their defence, which was strangely off against the Reds.

** The Cheetahs have so often promised to disappoint overseas, but their match against the Force on Friday is one they can - and should - win. Self belief and a performance like the one in the second half against the Lions could clinch this one. With a rather fragile-looking reserve list, they must make hay while the sun still shines on a team relatively free of injuries.

** In one of the remaining three matches Crusaders face the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday without Richie McCaw who has concussion, lock Brad Thorn and fullback Leon MacDonald.

The Brumbies have beaten Crusaders five times from eight in Canberra and have lost only 17 of their 82 matches at home. Against a tentative looking Crusaders side, without coach Robbie Deans, the brilliant Dan Carter and now also McCaw not to mention a host of other All Blacks, last year's champions could be in for a fall.

** After three successive wins against the Australian side, the Chiefs loom as a threat once again in their match against the Waratahs in Sydney on Friday.

Last year's finalists Waratahs will have to be wary of the counter-attacking threat posed by the well-balanced Chiefs side that will be using their wingers, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga, whenever they can.

This could be a humdinger, although the well-balanced Chiefs will be playing without All Black fullback and captain Mils Muliaina (back) and No 8 Sione Lauaki (hamstring).

** The Hurricanes, who play at home, should have the beating of the Highlanders, despite their unexpected defeat at home against the Waratahs last week.

The Highlanders, on the other hand, seldom convinced even when they were 19-0 up against the Brumbies and simply have too many weaknesses to be a constant threat of title contender this year.

Weekend's fixtures (home teams first, SA times):

Friday: Hurricanes v Highlanders,0 8:35; Waratahs v Chiefs, 10:40; Force v Cheetahs, 12:45; Stormers v Reds, 19:10.

Saturday: Brumbies v Crusaders, 10:40; Bulls v Blues, 17:00; Sharks v Lions, 19:10.