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Christo Buchner
Durban - The Sharks look set to start Saturday's Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Bulls in Durban with their best front row.
That means there won't be place for John Smit in the starting line-up.
The Springbok captain is in a race against time to be fit. He started running on Monday afternoon, but has not participated in contact training as yet.
Team doctor Ewoudt van der Linde said that Smit would undergo a fitness test on Thursday to determine whether he would be a member of the 22-man squad that will take on the Bulls.
"His chance of being fit is 50-50 at this stage. We'll have to wait and see how things look on Thursday," Van der Linde confirmed.
Even if Smit is declared fit after struggling with a calf injury in recent weeks, it is almost certain that he will be on the substitutes' bench. It's certainly not necessary to risk him.
As things stand now, the Du Plessis brothers, Bismarck and Jannie, together with Beast Mtawarira, are viewed in many circles as the Sharks' best front row.
It will be important to take the game to the Bulls from the word go.
It may also be a better option to include a mobile hooker in Craig Burden on the bench and to also pick prop Eugene van Staden among the reserves after he impressed with his mobility and handling skills in recent games.
Smit could therefore be granted another week's rest.
Jacques Botes, who missed the last few games with an injured ankle, trained without any discomfort on Monday. He will be available for selection in place of the suspended flank Keegan Daniel.
Botes is yet to play to his potential this year and it will be a big test for him against the Bulls' expected loose trio of Deon Stegmann, Dewald Potgieter and Pierre Spies.
It will be interesting to see how their latest bye - scarcely three weeks after their previous one - influences the Sharks' play.
Five weeks of intense rugby awaits the Durbanites in their effort to make the playoffs and coach John Plumtree will drill into his side that Saturday is a case of all or nothing.
Durban - The Sharks look set to start Saturday's Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Bulls in Durban with their best front row.
That means there won't be place for John Smit in the starting line-up.
The Springbok captain is in a race against time to be fit. He started running on Monday afternoon, but has not participated in contact training as yet.
Team doctor Ewoudt van der Linde said that Smit would undergo a fitness test on Thursday to determine whether he would be a member of the 22-man squad that will take on the Bulls.
"His chance of being fit is 50-50 at this stage. We'll have to wait and see how things look on Thursday," Van der Linde confirmed.
Even if Smit is declared fit after struggling with a calf injury in recent weeks, it is almost certain that he will be on the substitutes' bench. It's certainly not necessary to risk him.
As things stand now, the Du Plessis brothers, Bismarck and Jannie, together with Beast Mtawarira, are viewed in many circles as the Sharks' best front row.
It will be important to take the game to the Bulls from the word go.
It may also be a better option to include a mobile hooker in Craig Burden on the bench and to also pick prop Eugene van Staden among the reserves after he impressed with his mobility and handling skills in recent games.
Smit could therefore be granted another week's rest.
Jacques Botes, who missed the last few games with an injured ankle, trained without any discomfort on Monday. He will be available for selection in place of the suspended flank Keegan Daniel.
Botes is yet to play to his potential this year and it will be a big test for him against the Bulls' expected loose trio of Deon Stegmann, Dewald Potgieter and Pierre Spies.
It will be interesting to see how their latest bye - scarcely three weeks after their previous one - influences the Sharks' play.
Five weeks of intense rugby awaits the Durbanites in their effort to make the playoffs and coach John Plumtree will drill into his side that Saturday is a case of all or nothing.
