Cape Town - An intriguing midfield battle is on the cards when the Sharks and the Free State Cheetahs lock horns in their Absa Currie Cup clash in Durban on Saturday.
Sparks could fly between the centre pairings as all four players know each other really well.
Corné Uys (Cheetahs) and Meyer Bosman (Sharks) played together for the Cheetahs in last season's Currie Cup, while Uys' midfield partner for the Cheetahs - Andries Strauss - played for the Sharks last season.
Uys' direct opponent at outside centre against Sharks is expected to be Marius Joubert (the Sharks are yet to announce their side), and many believe Uys' good play was the reason Western Province did not renew Joubert's contract after the 2006 season - when both of them played their rugby in the Cape.
Both centre pairings will no doubt be determined to prove a point.
Uys confirmed to Hendrik Cronjé from Volksblad that no holds will be barred come Saturday.
"It will be war in the midfield," said Uys .
"There will be a lot of emotion. Myself and Meyer (Bosman) played together last season. Meyer and Andries (Strauss) have switched teams.
"Both centre pairings will be determined to get the upper hand, so it will be very interesting."
Teams:
Sharks:
TBA
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Henni Daniller, 14 Riaan Smit, 13 Corne Uys, 12 Andries Strauss (captain), 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Johan Wessels, 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 PW van Vuuren, 1 Marcel van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen, 19 Pieter Myburgh, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Philip Snyman, 22 Philip Burger
Sparks could fly between the centre pairings as all four players know each other really well.
Corné Uys (Cheetahs) and Meyer Bosman (Sharks) played together for the Cheetahs in last season's Currie Cup, while Uys' midfield partner for the Cheetahs - Andries Strauss - played for the Sharks last season.
Uys' direct opponent at outside centre against Sharks is expected to be Marius Joubert (the Sharks are yet to announce their side), and many believe Uys' good play was the reason Western Province did not renew Joubert's contract after the 2006 season - when both of them played their rugby in the Cape.
Both centre pairings will no doubt be determined to prove a point.
Uys confirmed to Hendrik Cronjé from Volksblad that no holds will be barred come Saturday.
"It will be war in the midfield," said Uys .
"There will be a lot of emotion. Myself and Meyer (Bosman) played together last season. Meyer and Andries (Strauss) have switched teams.
"Both centre pairings will be determined to get the upper hand, so it will be very interesting."
Teams:
Sharks:
TBA
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Henni Daniller, 14 Riaan Smit, 13 Corne Uys, 12 Andries Strauss (captain), 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Johan Wessels, 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 PW van Vuuren, 1 Marcel van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen, 19 Pieter Myburgh, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Philip Snyman, 22 Philip Burger