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Cape Town - Lions president Kevin de Klerk is confident that his team will take what he believes is their rightful place in Super Rugby.
The Lions were replaced by the Kings for this year's competition, but are favourites to return next season after beating their foes from Port Elizabeth 26-19 in the first promotion-relegation match last week.
For the Kings to stay up, they have to win Saturday's second clash at Ellis Park by at least eight points or with a four-try bonus point.
But De Klerk believes his team will shut the door on the Kings.
"We want to right some wrongs. It will taste real sweet if that happens. I am proud of my team and for the courage they showed over the weekend," he told the Beeld website.
"The way I see things, the Kings won't make it."
However, if the Kings lose the promotion-relegation playoffs, they are expected to fight for their spot in the SARU boardroom.
"Yes, if we win it will again be another ball game. (But) this time we're going to the sponsors with a loaded gun. Then we'll have shut everyone's mouths with the way we played and prove that we belong in the (Super Rugby) series.
"The Kings supposedly did well in their first season? But now we are beating them?
"We'll have a plan of action in place when such a time arrives," continued De Klerk.
The clash at Ellis Park kicks off at 17:00 on Saturday.
Teams:
Lions:
TBA
Kings:
15. SP Marais, 14. Hadleigh Parkes, 13. Ronnie Cooke, 12. Waylon Murray, 11. Scott van Breda, 10. George Whitehead, 9. Shaun Venter, 8. Jacques Engelbrecht, 7. Wimpie van der Walt, 6. David Bulbring, 5. Darron Nell (captain), 4. Cornell du Preez, 3. Kevin Buys, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. Schalk Ferreira
Substitutes: 16. Charl du Plessis, 17. Hannes Franklin, 18. Steven Sykes, 19. Devin Oosthuizen, 20. Nicolas Vergallo, 21. Wesley Dunlop, 22. Shane Gates.
The Lions were replaced by the Kings for this year's competition, but are favourites to return next season after beating their foes from Port Elizabeth 26-19 in the first promotion-relegation match last week.
For the Kings to stay up, they have to win Saturday's second clash at Ellis Park by at least eight points or with a four-try bonus point.
But De Klerk believes his team will shut the door on the Kings.
"We want to right some wrongs. It will taste real sweet if that happens. I am proud of my team and for the courage they showed over the weekend," he told the Beeld website.
"The way I see things, the Kings won't make it."
However, if the Kings lose the promotion-relegation playoffs, they are expected to fight for their spot in the SARU boardroom.
"Yes, if we win it will again be another ball game. (But) this time we're going to the sponsors with a loaded gun. Then we'll have shut everyone's mouths with the way we played and prove that we belong in the (Super Rugby) series.
"The Kings supposedly did well in their first season? But now we are beating them?
"We'll have a plan of action in place when such a time arrives," continued De Klerk.
The clash at Ellis Park kicks off at 17:00 on Saturday.
Teams:
Lions:
TBA
Kings:
15. SP Marais, 14. Hadleigh Parkes, 13. Ronnie Cooke, 12. Waylon Murray, 11. Scott van Breda, 10. George Whitehead, 9. Shaun Venter, 8. Jacques Engelbrecht, 7. Wimpie van der Walt, 6. David Bulbring, 5. Darron Nell (captain), 4. Cornell du Preez, 3. Kevin Buys, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. Schalk Ferreira
Substitutes: 16. Charl du Plessis, 17. Hannes Franklin, 18. Steven Sykes, 19. Devin Oosthuizen, 20. Nicolas Vergallo, 21. Wesley Dunlop, 22. Shane Gates.
