Meanwhile the Griffons face Western Province in Welkom and the Griquas play the Blue Bulls in Kimberley.
Friday 12 May
Griffons | Draw | Western Province
Odds TBA*
The Griffons are yet to add to their sole victory over the Blue Bulls earlier this season and head into this one bottom of the log, nine-points adrift of the next-placed Pretoria outfit. While unsurprising, they still have five more games to steal another upset win and could catch WP unawares here.
Province have won four of their nine son far and copped a narrow loss in Bloemfontein last week. While they did see off the Purple People Eaters 47-28 in April, this one could be more closely contested.
Griffons on the plus.
Pumas | Draw | Sharks
Jimmy Stonehouse’s men trail the Cheetahs by two-points on the log and will need to work hard to close that gap this weekend when hey host the Sharks. The defending champs have lost just twice so far (one being to Joey Mongalo’s side) and look shoo-ins for the playoffs but whether they can finish top at potentially host a final for the first time remains to be seen.
The third-placed Sharks have three wins from their last three outings and can narrow the gap between themselves and their opponents this week with a big win. The Pumas are six-points ahead of the Durbanites but that deficit should be reduced come Friday.
Sharks to take it.
Saturday 13 May
Free State Cheetahs | Draw | Golden Lions
The Cheetahs breezed past the Lions 52-15 in Joburg last month and shouldn’t have trouble doing the double over them here. Hawies Fourie’s men are out to seal top spot on the log and will be going full steam ahead here.
The visitors are well and truly part of the playoff scramble midtable. Sitting sixth, albeit just two-points off fourth, they will be lucky to come away from their trip to Toyota Stadium with anything to show for it.
Cheetahs on the minus.
Griquas | Draw | Blue Bulls
Griquas welcome the Bulls to Kimberley having dispatched of the Lions by just four-points last week. They occupy fourth but have WP and the Joburg outfit breathing down their necks in a tightly contested midtable.
The Bulls are seventh with 17-points, someway off their hosts (23-points) this week. The men from Pretoria were well beaten by the Sharks in the previous round and should fall just short at Windhoek Draught Park.
Bulls on the plus.
