Preview: Currie Cup qualifier, Round 1
The battle for the last available position in the Currie Cup Premier Division will begin on Friday, as six of the seven teams participating in the qualifiers go-head to-head over the weekend.
The top team on the log table at the end of the qualifiers, which feature seven rounds of matches, will gain automatic entry into the Premier Division, while the remaining six teams will battle drop down to the First Division.
It will be between Griquas, who participated in the Premier Division last season, the Griffons, champions of the First Division in 2014, as well as the Boland Cavaliers, Border Bulldogs, Leopards, SWD Eagles and the Falcons in the competition.
In Friday's opening matches, the SWD Eagles will host the Leopards at Outeniqua Park in George and Border takes on Griquas at the BCM Stadium in East London.
In the only match on Saturday, Boland meet the Griffons at the Malmesbury Sports Grounds.
The clash between the SWD Eagles and Leopards is expected to be tight as the teams were closely matched in terms of their attack in the recent Vodacom Cup competition. SWD, however, are expected to bank on their more effective defence as one of the areas which could give them an edge.
Griquas, meanwhile, will enter their clash against Border as favourites after showing good form in the first half of the season. They will also draw on their experience gained in last year's Currie Cup Premier Division as they look to make their presence felt. Border, however, will enter the match with confidence after registering a morale-boosting victory against Boland in their final Vodacom Cup match.
In Malmesbury the battle between Boland and the Griffons could also come down to the wire as both teams look to make up for their slow start to the season.
The visitors, in particular, will be inspired by their successful First Division season last year, but they may have to work hard for an invaluable away-win.
The Falcons, meanwhile, have a bye.
Currie Cup qualifier Round One fixtures:
Friday, June 12
SWD Eagles v Leopards
Venue: Outeniqua Park, George
Kick-off: 19.00
Border Bulldogs v Griquas
Venue: BCM Stadium, East London
Kick-off: 19.00
Saturday, June 13
Boland Cavaliers v Griffons
Venue: Malmesbury Sports Grounds, Malmesbury
Kick-off: 15.00
