Preview: Currie Cup, Round Twelve

The battle for semi-final places continues this weekend with just three rounds to go until the knock-out phase of the competition begins.

The battle for semi-final places continues this weekend with just three rounds to go until the knock-out phase of the competition begins.

With the Sharks seemingly home and dry at the top of the table, there are still five teams in with a shout for the three remaining semi-final places.

Friday's games see the Cheetahs desperate to grab all five points when they entertain the lowly Pumas, while Griquas make a daunting trip to Cape Town to take on Western Province, knowing that a loss would effectively end their chances of making it into the top four.

On Saturday the Leopards play host to a Blue Bulls outfit that will be eager to inflict more punishment on Chaka Willemse's men, who look likely to go through the entire season without a victory.

The pick of the weekend's fixtures is undoubtedly the rampaging Sharks' visit to the Lions. John Mitchell's men have the uphill task of trying to overcome a Durban side side in scintillating form if they are to keep their challenge alive.

Fixtures:

Friday, 24 September
Cheetahs v Pumas
Western Province vs Griquas
Saturday, 25 September
Leopards v Blue Bulls
Lions v Sharks

Standings:
1. Sharks 46
2. Western Province 38
3. Blue Bulls 33
4. Cheetahs 32
5. Lions 31
6. Griquas 30
7. Pumas 17
8. Leopards 5

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Previews:

Cheetahs v Pumas

Naka Drotské's Free State Cheetahs will be in search of the full compliment of points when they entertain the hapless Pumas.

The Bloemfontein outfit will be looking to pick themselves up from a disappointing 30-16 loss to the Sharks last time out.

The Cheetahs know that they can't afford to slip up in the race for the play-offs and a victory will keep them in the top four.

When these two sides met back in round five, the Cheetahs won an entertaining encounter 45-30 and this tie should deliver another high-scoring contest.

Drotské has made two changes with full-back Hennie Daniller given a rest, which sees Riaan Smit handed a start. WP Nel also comes into the side with Kobus Calldo dropping to the bench.

Hannes Franklin returns for the Pumas and Dawie Steyn and Willem Serfontein replace Ronnie Uys and Andries Kruger in the front row.

Vainon Willis replaces Allister Kettledas on the left wing, while Siviwe Magaba comes in for Ricardo Croy at inside centre.

Prediction: The Pumas will struggle to pick themselves up after the hiding to Western Province last weekend and the Cheetahs will have too much in the tank. Drotské charges should win by more than 20.

The teams:

Cheetahs: 15 Riaan Smit 14 Philip Snyman 13 Robert Ebersohn 12 Meyer Bosman 11 Jongi Nokwe 10 Louis Strydom 9 Tewis De Bruyn 8 Ashley Johnson 7 Philip Van der Walt 6 Hendro Scholtz 5 David de Villiers 4 Francois Uys 3 WP Nel 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen
Replacements:16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Kobus Calldo 18 Izak vd Westhuizen 19 Kabamba Floors 20 Tertius Carse 21 Sias Ebersohn 22 Corne Uys.

Pumas: 15 Johan Jackson, 14 Conrad Marais, 13 Shaun Venter, 12 Siviwe Magaba, 11 Vainon Willis, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Hendrik van der Nest, 8 Christo le Roux, 7 Jaco Bouwer, 6 Corne Steenkamp, 5 Willem Serfontein, 4 Eduan Van Der Walt, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 Hannes Franklin, 1 Dawie Steyn
Replacements:16 Hans van Dyk, 17 Brett Nel, 18 Luan Velthuizen, 19 Martin Sithole, 20 Jacques Coetzee, 21 Ricardo Croy, 22 Ashwin Scott.

Venue: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Kick-off:19:00 (17:00 GMT)
Referee: Joey Salmans
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Western Province v Griquas

Western Province got back to winning ways with a 62-10 demolition job of the Pumas last weekend and they will aim to pick up where they left off against Griquas.

The men from Kimberley seem to have run out of steam and if they fail to upset Alistar Coetzee's charges in their own backyard, they can kiss goodbye their play-off ambitions.

After a fantastic start to the season, Griquas have managed just one win in their last five games and the fact that they only scraped home against the Leopards last week will be cause for concern for Dawie Theron.

Theron has made a number of changes to his side ahead of the game with Jacobie Adriaanse starting at tighthead, Jean Botha moving to loosehead and Steph Roberts relegated to the bench.

Edwin Hewitt gets a start at lock with MB Lusaseni dropping out of the match 22.

Davon Raubenheimer returns to the back row, Justin Downey moves to openside flanker and Johan van Deventer is omitted from the squad altogether.

Province have only made one change from the team that thumped the Pumas with De Kock Steenkamp handed a start and Adriaan Fondse dropping to the bench.

Prediction: After a lapse in concentration which saw Province lose three games straight they have climbed back onto the winning bicycle and should beat Griquas by 10 points.

The teams:

Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 JJ Engelbrecht, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Anton van Zyl (c), 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Wicus Blaauw
Replacements: 16 Hanyani Shimange, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 Adriaan Fondse, 19 Nick Koster, 20 Conrad Hoffmann, 21 Gary van Aswegan, 22 Paul Bosch.

Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen 14 Rocco Jansen 13 Wilmaure Louw 12 Barry Geel 11 Bjorn Basson 10 Naas Olivier 9 Sarel Pretorius 8 Burger Schoeman 7 Davon Raubenheimer 6 Justin Downey 5 Cecil Kemp 4 Edwin Hewitt 3 Jacobie Adriaanse 2 Ryno Barnes 1 Jean Botha.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Steph Roberts, 18 Frikkie Spies, 19 Gerhard Human, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Jean Stemmet, 22 Rudi Vogt

Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off:19:10 (17:10 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker
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Leopards v Blue Bulls

The Blue Bulls will be overwhelming favourites when they look to put their see-saw season to bed against basement dwellers the Leopards.

Frans Ludeke's troops will view the game as an excellent opportunity to notch up some valuable log points as they aim to put together back-to-back victories for only the second time this term.

The defending champions will take confidence from their 24-21 over semi-final rivals the Lions last weekend and they will be out to improve their points difference against a Leopards team that has leaked 474 points and 67 tries.

The Pretoria outfit have been boosted with the return of skipper Gary Botha, who should provide some much-needed inspiration ahead of their semi-final run-in.

Botha, who replaces Chiliboy