Preview: Griquas v Boland
Despite sitting handy in fourth place, nothing less a bonus-point win will be good enough.
Hot on their heels are last year's finalists – the defending champion Golden Lions and Western Province – who meet in Johannesburg a day later.
With just two points between Griquas (on 14) and the two chasers (Lions and WP) Griquas will almost certainly find themselves outside the top four (play-off places) if they suffer defeat against the Cavaliers.
Boland are coming off an impressive 25-22 win against the Pumas last Friday and will fancy their chances of back-to-back victories – after losing their first three matches of the season.
Griquas have opted for continuity, with just three changes to the side that overpowered the Eastern Province Kings 47-24 in Kimberley last Wednesday.
Johnathan Francke comes in at outside centre for Jacobus Jonker in the only backline change.
The two changes in the pack are both in the front row – with Chase Morison at tighthead prop for Stephan Kotze and Devon Martinus at loosehead prop for Steph Roberts.
Liam Hendricks and Mzwanele Zito come onto the bench as front row cover.
Unfortunately, the Cavaliers will have to take on this challenging task without their captain Ryan Nell, who sustained a fracture in his leg during the win over the Pumas.
Nell's injury will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the 2016 Currie Cup season.
Boland's livewire hooker Clemen Lewis takes over the captaincy responsibilities from Nell for this match, with Marnus Hugo named as vice-captain.
Utility back Gerrit van Wyk will also miss at least two weeks of Currie Cup action due to a concussion. Van Wyk was on the receiving end of a dangerous elbow charge during the Pumas match.
Several key players have returned from injury, but a number of players are still being nursed back to full fitness.
Sergio Torrens (wing), Zandre Jordaan (loose forward) and Basil Short (prop) have all been included in Boland's matchday 22, while a number of other players aren't included due to injury.
Chaney Willemse (flank), Ferdie Horn (lock), Edwin Sass (Centre), Jovelian de Koker (scrumhalf), Nico Scheepers (fullback), Francois Hanekom (prop), Ryan Nell (centre) and William van Wyk (flyhalf) are all injured.
Prediction: Griquas have had 10 days since their last match and are playing at home. They will be well-rested and probably too strong for the Boland Cavaliers. Griquas by about 15 points.
Teams:
Griquas: 15 Adriaan Coertzen (captain), 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Johnathan Francke, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Rudi van Rooyen, 8 Jason Fraser, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Wendal Wehr, 5 Jonathan Janse van Rensburg, 4 Wandile Putuma, 3 Chase Morison , 2 Abraham Le Roux, 1 Devon Martinus.
Replacements: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Liam Hendricks, 18 Mzwanele Zito, 19 Thabo Mabuza, 20 Renier Botha, 21 Andre Swart, 22 Eric Zana.
Boland Cavaliers: 15 Theuns Kotze, 14 Sergio Torrens, 13 Robbie Louw, 12 Christopher Bosch, 11 Danwel Demas, 10 Adriaan Carelse, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Shaun McDondald, 6 Shaun Adendorff, 5 Joubert Horn, 4 Johannes Kitshoff, 3 Enoch Mnyaka, 2 Clemen Lewis, 1 Stephanus Wessels.
Replacements: 16 Francois Esterhuyzen, 17 Basil Short, 18 Wayne Wilschut, 19 Zandré Jordaan, 20 Gerhard Jordaan, 21 Craig Pheiffer, 22 Logan Basson.
Date: Thursday, September 8
Venue: Griqua Park, Kimberley
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00)
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
Assistant referees: Jaco Kotze, Mpho Matsaung
TMO: JJ Wagner
