Cape Town - Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold says they will be no means be taking the Southern Kings lightly in their Super Rugby encounter in Durban on Saturday.
It will be the teams’ second meeting this season, with the Sharks having won the first game 43-8 in Port Elizabeth.
The Kings boast only one win from 10 outings this season and will enter the clash at Kings Park as heavy underdogs.
However, after 10 games in 11 weeks, crossing numerous time-zones east and west and taking in three continents in less than three weeks, the Sharks will look to finish a gruelling schedule on a high note.
The Durbanites have a bye next week, before the competition breaks for a month for the June Test window.
“We had work to do after our performance against the Jaguares (a 25-22 win), but we are happy with the character shown to dig deep and find a way to win in tough conditions, at what was an unfamiliar venue for the majority of our players,” Gold said via a press statement on Thursday.
“Every week you need to be at your best in this competition and our match against the Kings is no exception. They have been working hard and improving each week and they will be ready for the fight this weekend.”
Meanwhile, Gold opted to make six changes for the match against the Kings.
Named to start at scrumhalf last week, Michael Claassens missed the Jaguares match after pulling up in captain’s practice with a groin strain, but has recovered in time to start.
Wing Lwazi Mvovo returns to the starting line-up, while loose forward Jean-Luc du Preez comes in for namesake Jean Deysel in the back row.
Lock Etienne Oosthuizen has also made his return to the starting line-up, while there is a new front row in Lourens Adriaanse, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Dale Chadwick.
Saturday’s clash is scheduled for 17:10.
Teams:
Sharks
15.
Willie le Roux, 15. Willie le Roux, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Paul Jordaan,
12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie (captain),
9. Michael Claassens, 8. Daniel du Preez, 7. Jean-Luc du Preez, 6.
Keegan Daniel, 5. Stephan Lewies, 4. Etienne Oosthuizen, 3. Lourens
Adriaanse, 2. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1. Dale Chadwick
Substitutes: 16.
Kyle Cooper, 17. Juan Schoem, 18. Thomas du Toitan, 19. Giant Mtyanda,
20. Tera Mtembu, 21. Stefan Ungerer, 22. Garth April, 23. Odwa Ndungane
Kings
15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Lukhanyo Am, 13 JP du Plessis, 12 Shane Gates, 11 Luzuko Vulindlu, 10 Louis Fouche, 9 Ntando Kebe, 8 Aidon Davis, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Stefan Willemse, 5 Schalk Oelofse, 4 Steven Sykes (captain), 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Martin Ferreira, 1 Schalk Ferreira
Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Justin Ackerman, 18 Tom Botha, 19 JC Astle, 20 Jacques Engelbrecht, 21 Kevin Luiters, 22 Elgar Watts, 23 Leighton Eksteen