Lions scrum-half Morne van den Berg in action during a Currie Cup match earlier this month. Picture: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images
The Lions have officially entered the last chance saloon to stay in contention for the Currie Cup trophy as they prepare to face Western Province at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Friday evening (kick-off 5.05pm).
After a heart-breaking 33-32 loss at the death against the Bulls last week, the Lions have slipped down the log to seventh on the table and find themselves five points adrift of Province who sit in the fourth and final playoff spot on 31 points.
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It is thus a massive game for both teams, as a loss for the Lions will effectively end their chances of reaching the knockouts, while a loss for Province will give both the Griquas and Bulls, in fifth and sixth, a chance to move ahead of them on the log.
With Western Province’s best players in the Stormers squad for the United Rugby Championship (URC) final against Munster on Saturday, it opens the door for a URC strengthened Lions team to take advantage.
The Lions have certainly shown improvements in their last two games with their best players back, beating the Cheetahs away and then just going down to a URC laden Bulls, so they will hope to take that momentum into the Province game.
The hosts have, however, been doing just fine without their star players, with their back-up brigade winning their last two games, including a 22-14 win over defending champs the Pumas last weekend, and they will now be looking to add another big scalp to their list in the Lions.
The other Currie Cup game on Friday sees the Sharks take on the Griffons at North West Stadium in Welkom (kick-off 3pm).
The second on the log Sharks are in superb form, having won their last five games on the trot and come into the match off a superb 35-23 win over the table topping Cheetahs over the past weekend, and they will be hot favourites to continue that run.
The Griffons have struggled in their first season back in the Currie Cup, with just one win from their 11 games, but they will want to put up as big a challenge as they can.
In Saturday’s matches, the Cheetahs host Griquas at 1.30pm and the Pumas entertain the Bulls at 3.35pm.
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