- Sharks coach Sean Everitt is hoping to put some pressure on the Bulls this weekend in the race for the Super Rugby Unlocked title.
- The Sharks face a trip to Kimberley to take on Griquas.
- The priority, though, could very well end up being making the Currie Cup final in January.
It is obviously the Bulls' tournament to lose, but Sharks coach Sean Everitt has not given up on challenging for Super Rugby Unlocked honours, saying the tournament is "going down to the wire".
The Bulls, who have a bye this weekend, are six points ahead of both the Sharks and Stormers - who have a game in hand - with two rounds of fixtures remaining.
The Sharks take on Griquas in Kimberley on Friday, a game that they will be favourites to win. If they do, then they will be within striking distance of the Bulls heading into the final weekend of the competition and if the Bulls slip up against the Pumas while the Sharks beat the Stormers, then the unique Super Rugby Unlocked trophy will be heading to Durban.
It is a long shot - the Bulls will be heavily favoured to get the job done against the Pumas - but it is still possible and it would be reward for a Sharks side that was top of the Super Rugby 2020 log before the tournament was scrapped in March as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Super Rugby Unlocked is going down to the wire now, so a good performance from us would mean that we would get a result, hopefully, with a bonus point that would keep us one point adrift of the Bulls in the first round," Everitt said on Thursday after announcing his team for the trip to Kimberley.
The nature of this unique season, though, means that there are two trophies up for grabs in one log.
While the Super Rugby Unlocked winner will be confirmed next weekend, all of those log points will then carry over into the second half of the season where the fight for Currie Cup semi-final places will continue.
It means that, even now under the banner of Super Rugby Unlocked, sides are jostling for position with the Currie Cup in mind.
"It's been one game at a time for us, but we've never taken our eye off the end part of the competition," added Everitt.
"Ultimately, it's a long competition and hence the reason why we've rotated certain players.
"These log points that we have gathered now will play a massive role in January when the play-offs take place."
Kick-off in Kimberley on Friday will be at 19:00.
Teams:
Griquas
15 Masixole Banda, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Harlon Klaasen, 12 Johnathan Francke, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 George Whitehead (captain), 9 Zak Burger, 8 Johan Momsen, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 HJ Luus, 1 Mox Mxoli.
Substitutes (from): 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Madot Mabokela, 19 Carl Els, 20 CJ Velleman, 21 Theo Maree, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Daniel Kasende, 24 Bandisa Ndlovu, 25 Ewan Coetzee, 26 Ashlon Davids
Sharks
15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Jeremy Ward (captain), 12 Marius Louw, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Thembelani Bholi, James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 John-Hubert Meyer, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ox NcheSubstitutes: 16 Daniel Jooste, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Khwezi Mona, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 S'bu Nkosi
- Compiled by Lloyd Burnard