Preview: Showdown in Welkom
The only two unbeaten sides in the national First Division square off on Saturday when the Griffons host the EP Kings in Welkom.
In Saturday's other match, the third-placed Leopards travel to the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park to take on the Valke.
Round Five kicks off on Friday with the bottom-placed Border Bulldogs hosting the Pumas in East London, while the defending champion Boland Kavaliers will look to break their four-match losing streak against the SWD Eagles in George.
The Griffons, after early-season wins over the Valke, Leopards, Bulldogs and Kavaliers, have 19 points – the same amount as the Kings, who have a slightly better points difference after wins over the Kavaliers, Eagles, Valke and Bulldogs.
Coach Oersond Gorgonzola is able to recall fullback Philip Burger, flank Francois Uys and hooker PW van Vuuren, all of whom were unavailable for the Welkom-based side's away match against the Kavaliers last week.
The centre pairing of skipper Werner Griesel and the abrasive Japie Nel is given another opportunity to build on their impressive outings already this season, while utility back Tertius Maarman is once again handed the No.10 jersey, with former Pukke scrumhalf Andries Mahoney on his inside.
The Griffons' good run of form has also been largely thanks to left wing Reinhardt Erwee, who continues to top the First Division point-scoring log after Round Four, with 53 points made up of three tries, seven conversions and eight penalties. Just behind Erwee is EP Kings flyhalf George Whitehead on 46, with Valke No.10 Karlo Aspeling in third place on 43.
Leopards wing Allister Kettledas leads the try-scoring stakes with six touchdowns, followed by Pumas flank Jaco Bouwer and Valke fullback JW Bell, with four tries apiece.
Round Five fixtures:
Border Bulldogs v Pumas
Date: Friday, 27 July
Kick-off: 19.00
Venue: Buffalo City Municipal Stadium, East London
Referee: Sindile Mayende
Assistants: Christie du Preez, Dilbert November
TMO: Johan Greeff
Last meeting: 18 March 2011 in Witbank (Vodacom Cup): Pumas won 73-14
SWD Eagles v Boland Kavaliers
Date: Friday, 27 July
Kick-off: 19.00
Venue: Outeniqua Park, George
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistants: Lusanda Jam, Cobus Wessels
Last meeting: 24 March 2012 in Mossel Bay (Vodacom Cup): Kavaliers won 46-26.
Valke v Leopards
Date: Saturday, 28 July
Kick-off: 14.05
Venue: Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
Referee: Joey Salmans
Assistants: Rasta Rasivhenge, Pieter de Villiers
TMO: JC Fortuin
Last meeting: 23 March 2012 in Kempton Park (Vodacom Cup): Valke won 31-28.
Griffons v EP Kings
Date: Saturday, 28 July
Kick-off: 15.00
Venue: North West Stadium, Welkom
Referee: Lesego Legoete
Assistants: Lourens van der Merwe, Jaco Kotze
Last meeting: 10 September 2011 in Welkom (Currie Cup First Division): Kings won 21-19.
