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Cape Town - The Lions will roll into Durban and emerge victorious in their Super Rugby derby against the Sharks on Saturday, if bookmakers are to be believed...
READ: Sharks v Lions: 5 key head-to-head clashes
Super Rugby returns to our screens - and stadiums - this weekend after a break for the international Test window.
With just two matches remaining until the playoffs, the Lions will be looking to entrench their spot atop the South African Conference and secure an all-important home quarter-final.
They currently enjoy a six point lead over the Jaguares, albeit having played one more match. Following Saturday's match, the Lions have a bye next weekend and finish their conference stage commitments against the Bulls at Ellis Park in the final round.
The Sharks are teetering on elimination from playoff contention and will need to win their remaining three matches - Lions (H), Stormers (A), Jaguares (H) - to stand any mathematical chance of progressing.
Leading SA bookies BET.co.za have installed Warren Whiteley's Lions side as 4.5-point handicap favourites and 11/20 for the outright win for Saturday's clash, with the Sharks on offer at 3/2.
The draw can be backed at 22/1.
The match has thrown up several mouth-watering head-to-head contents, with Malcolm Marx v Akker van der Merwe, Elton Jantjies v Robert du Preez and Aphiwe Dyantyi v S'bu Nkosi among the tastiest.
Kick-off is at 17:15.
Teams:
Sharks
15 Curwin Bosch, 14 S'bu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Phillip van der Walt, 5 Ruan Botha (captain), 4 Tyler Paul, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Beast Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Lwazi Mvovo
Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith
Substitutes: 16 Corne Fourie, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19, Lourens Erasmus, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Marnus Schoeman, 22 Nic Groom, 23 Courtnall Skosan
