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Kimberley - Griquas coach Pote Human says they are desperate for a victory and need to claim maximum points against the Lions in a Currie Cup clash here at GWK Park on Saturday.
With only one win from four outings, way back in round one against the Sharks in Durban, the Peacock Blues face a massive challenge against a rampant Lions side.
"It is the same scenario as last week," Human said.
"We needed a win against the Free State Cheetahs and we didn't get it. This week we need it even more.
"We told ourselves at the start of the competition that we don't want to find ourselves in a situation where we have to battle it out for Currie Cup survival.
"Our fate is still in our own hands. Hopefully we can produce something special on Saturday."
The hosts need a victory to get their campaign back on track, but the Lions have proved to be a side that should not be underestimated.
The Lions also only have a single win under their belt and can be beaten if the hosts are on top of their game, according to Human.
"We believe that any side can beat another on any given day," he said.
"We will give nothing less than our utmost best against the Lions on Saturday. We've been disrupted by injuries and the suspension of Rory (Arnold), but we need to shrug that off now and perform.
"We are playing at home and we are facing a very good Lions side. How we decide to play is entirely up to us."
Earlier this week, the Griquas' Australian lock Arnold was found guilty of biting Cheetahs hooker Ethienne Reynecke and was slapped with a seven-match ban by the SA Rugby Union, ruling him out of Saturday's encounter.
The visitors, meanwhile, travel to the Northern Cape with a loose trio bolstered by veterans Derrick Minnie and Willie Britz.
In that regard Human will look to the two fetchers Carel Greeff and Marnus Schoeman, who he included to help counter the visitors.
"Carel and Marnus are both recognised fetchers that will be very valuable with regards to the break downs," Human explained.
"Derrick and Willie will definitely test us there and we have full confidence that our boys will match the challenge."
Lions coach Johann Ackermann admitted his side will be in for a tough afternoon but believed the former champions were in with a realistic chance.
"Griquas are always a tough side to beat in Kimberley. We know that they will throw everything at us," Ackermann said.
"But we are well prepared and look forward to the challenge."
Teams:
Griquas
15 PJ Vermeulen, 14
Richard Lawson, 13 Jean Stemmet, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10
Francois Brummer, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Carel Greeff, 7 Burger Schoeman, 6
Marnus Schoeman, 5 Victor Kruger, 4 Patrick O’Brien, 3 Nick Schonert, 2
Ryno Barnes, 1 Steph Roberts
Substitutes: 16 Matthew Dobson, 17
Brummer Badenhorst, 18 Dalton Davis, 19 RJ Liebenberg, 20 Jacques
Coetzee, 21 Du Randt Gerber, 22 JP Nel
Lions:
15
Marnitz Boshoff, 14 Andries Coetzee, 13 Robert de Bruyn, 12 Dylan Des
Fountain, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Willie
Britz, 7 Derick Minnie (captain), 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4
Ruan Venter, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen
Substitutes: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 JJ Breet, 19 Warwick Tecklenberg, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Deon Helberg, 22 Ruhan Nel
