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Sharks wait on injured duo

Durban - The Sharks go into Saturday's Super Rugby clash against the Lions with confidence after two important victories, knowing that the following two games are as important as any they have (or will) play this season.

They are already without Jean Deysel and Odwa Ndungane, and according to Sharks website editor Michael Marnewick two forwards, Jannie du Plessis and Willem Alberts face late fitness tests to ascertain their availability for this match.

"We're still monitoring Alberts, who is carrying a bit of a shoulder injury which he picked up in the last couple of minutes in the Cheetahs game, we'll only make a decision on him on Thursday, the same with Jannie, who ran quite well on Tuesday," explained coach John Plumtree. "But I won’t risk him if he’s not right."

Going into the final two weeks, the Sharks are well-aware of the need to perform well and get the results they need as there is no clear-cut evidence that one win is enough to secure a top 6 finish.

"We can still win this weekend and still have to win at Loftus the following week, with the Waratahs playing the Highlanders and Stormers playing the Bulls," said Plumtree.

"The top teams are under threat as well; with two rounds to go and 10 points available, the whole thing can change again after this week. If we do the job this weekend, it still depends on how the other results go in terms of what needs to be done the following week against the Bulls."

the Sharks coach has emphasised the importance of ball-carrying for Saturday's clash.

"It's about being tactically a bit more savvy and about the players wanting to achieve. Carrying the ball across the advantage line is a big part of the game and we haven't been doing that effectively of late."

Ball-carrying is an area the Sharks have concentrated on - getting numbers to carry, and numbers to support.

"There are a few things we have been working on, making sure we play in the right areas and making sure we work harder off the ball. You could look at urgency to ball-carrier in terms of support. There are things we've addressed, now it's really a case of the players going out and doing that, that's been the focus."

The focus in the coming weeks will be on the ball-carriers getting across the advantage line.

"Willem Alberts is the highest ball-carrier in the competition, he's done a lot of carrying for us, Bismarck has been doing a lot as well, but we've missed the luxury of having Jean Deysel," explained Plumtree.

"But the emphasis must be on everyone taking responsibility to do it, because if you work out that there are two or three carrying, you look after them. Everyone has a responsibility to carry across the advantage line, but in the same breath, the support player is really important because you have to make sure you support that ball-carrier. It's no use everyone looking to be a ball-carrier and no-one looking to be a cleaner. It's really about getting flow and motion into our attack, and when we do get that going, we look pretty good."
 
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