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Sharks battling with injuries

Wednesday 02nd July 2008

Unsure starter: Bradley Barritt

The Sharks are dealing with a number of injury headaches ahead of their Currie Cup Round three clash with the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

While the Blue Bulls have had the good fortune of welcoming back Springboks Wikus van Heerden, Derick Hougaard and Zane Kirchner for the Sharks are not quite enjoying the same luck.

Centre turned fly-half Bradley Barritt could return for the match in Pretoria, although he only took part in limited training on Monday and Tuesday, while Rory Kockott's injury may not be quite as bad as originally thought and he has been given a 50-50 chance of turning out for the match.

With BJ Both back in the frame after his surprise exclusion from the Springbok touring squad, Jannie du Plessis is likely to get a rest at tighthead.

But Steven Sykes could well miss the match, having woken up on Sunday morning with an inflamed ankle. Alistair Hargreaves is another player who was a noticeable absentee from training this week, he is suffering with flu

Sharks coach John Plumtree has admitted that the experiment to play Sykes at flank, although enforced, may be discontinued.

"Yes, we have considered moving him back to lock, I think I can get same for him at lock as at flank because he is so mobile and has an excellent work rate," he told the Sharks website .

"The shift was something I had to make because of the loss of Jean Deysel, but we have [former Wildebeest flank] Nic Strauss back from playing in the UK, he looked quite good in a club game, so we might see a change there, he's likely to be in the 22 man squad."

Plumtree expects no favours or charity from the Bulls who slipped up against Western Province last week and despite the Sharks enjoying log-leader status, the Bulls will be overwhelming favourites for this game.

"Not too many sides go to Loftus as favourites, we're obviously missing quite a few players, we have a couple playing out of position which is not ideal, I'd say they are favourites, I'd be surprised if they weren't," said Plumtree.

"But this game is not about them, but what we can do to them. Our guys are looking forward to the contest, it's always a great match up there and we need to get out there and put something together.

"I think by their own standards, the Bulls realise they let themselves down in the last couple of campaigns, they didn't do well in the Super 14 but there have been signs of determination from them," he admits.