Golden Lions v Blue Bulls
(Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg - Kick-off: 19.10; 17.10 GMT)
Lions Johan Ackermann has the luxury of keeping his powder dry, so to speak, as he rests a number of key players - mostly those who have been subjected to excessive game time this year.
It is a ploy that worked well last year and has worked for other teams in the past.
The Bulls don't have that convenience, as they are literally fighting for survival.
However, there is another reason, according to Bulls coach Pine Pienaar, why he did not hesitate in using all his Boks.
"Just, for a moment, forget about the standings ... in my opinion they are the team that plays the best rugby," he said of the defending champions.
"They are in the same situation that we are," Pienaar told this website, adding: "They are, like us, basically a Super Rugby team with the Boks that return."
The Lions mentor named only two of his returning Springbok players, with Pat Cilliers replacing Jacobie Adriaanse at tighthead prop and CJ van der Linde replacing captain JC Janse van Rensburg at loosehead.
The side's star flyhalf, Elton Jantjies, could be given an opportunity to face his Bulls counterpart Morné Steyn off the bench.
Ackermann, earlier this week, told this website why he needs to rest his key players. While many feel Griquas do have a chance of beating the Sharks on Friday and leaving the back door open, the Lions coach think the Sharks will win.
That means his team will finish second, regardless of whether they win or lose against the Bulls, and there is no need to risk his frontline players.
The likes of Cilliers and Van der Linde are there because they are in need of game time, having not seen much action with the national team.
Ackermann was adamant they are not going to hand the game on a platter to the Bulls.
"Regardless of what side we selected, it would be a tough game because they [the Bulls] will be a full-strength side," Ackermann said.
"We are going out to win the game and there is no doubt in my mind that the players will feel the same.
"If the Bulls are good enough to beat us with the team they bring, then they deserve a place in the semis."
Ackermann, however, sent a stern warning to the Bulls not to underestimate his side.
"It is definitely not a given that they are going to win and hopefully the Bulls don't think that way, otherwise they are going to have a surprise."
The Bulls mentor is aware of the enormity of the challenge and said his team will have to be accurate in the execution of the gameplan.
"We will have to absorb the pressure they will put on us and return the favour ... put them under pressure," Pienaar said, adding: "It will be a titanic battle."
He also felt that the set pieces are going to be crucial.
"The Lions have, by some distance, the best scrum [in the competition] and we will have to be on top of our game in that regard.
"Against WP [last week] we showed improvement and played tactically very well - the one aspect that cost us was our discipline ... we conceded 22 penalties, which we have addressed."
Results this season:
For the Golden Lions:
Griquas 37-21 Golden Lions
Western Province 9-22 Golden Lions
Golden Lions 28-22 Sharks
Free State Cheetahs 23-38 Golden Lions
Blue Bulls 23-32 Golden Lions
Golden Lions 32-42 Griquas
Golden Lions 26-23 Western Province
Sharks 30-14 Golden Lions
Golden Lions 43-20 Free State Cheetahs
For the Blue Bulls:
Blue Bulls 26-13 Western Province
Sharks 13-12 Blue Bulls
Blue Bulls 34-30 Free State Cheetahs
Griquas 49-34 Blue Bulls
Blue Bulls 23-32 Golden Lions
Western Province 42-6 Blue Bulls
Blue Bulls 42-31 Sharks
Free State Cheetahs 32-18 Blue Bulls
Blue Bulls 35-20 Griquas
Prediction: The Lions will put up some stern resistance, especially in the first half. However, the Bulls have been building some decent momentum and they will pull away in the final quarter - to win by 10 to 15 points.
Teams:
Golden Lions: 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Andrew James (captain), 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 CJ van der Linde.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Franco van der Merwe, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Whestley Moolman, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Lionel Mapoe.
Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Dewald Potgieter (captain), 5 Flip van der Merwe, 4 Juandré Kruger, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Morné Mellett.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Dean Greyling.
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistants: Lourens van der Merwe, Stefan Breytenbach
TMO: Johan Greeff
Source: Rugby 365
