Markgraaff could be key to Sharks defeat

There was once a time when Griquas would pull out all the stops to beat the Sharks and roll out some of their coaching legends to impart some sage advice before playing the coastal side in the Currie Cup.

The talismanic figure in the mining town was without question Griquas' greatest coach Andre Markgraaff.

The disgraced former Springbok coach, who was fired from the national post after a tape was released with him making racist comments, is revered in the platteland and one of the most respected rugby men in the South African interior.

Even when Markies was not officially part of the Griqua Rugby Union, he would often be caught making a cameo appearance at practices before the "big" home games in Kimberley.

This week with the high-riding Sharks visiting the minnows, it is not beyond the realms of possibility for him to take on an advisory role ahead of the game, giving Griquas coach Dawie Theron, one of Markgraaff's prodigy's in the mid-1990s, some tips on how to sort out the the guys from Durban.

"They are definitely going to be in our faces," admitted Sharks coach Dick Muir.

"They will be aggressive and try to disrupt us but that's nothing unexpected."

While the Sharks are bracing themselves for an abrasive game plan from the diamond miners, tactically Muir said that his team were anticipating being targeted in the rucks.

"If Griquas have watched our previous games then they will try to take us on in the rucks and slow our ball down there.

"I'm sure they will also analyse our lineout play and try to kill our drives," Muir said.

Some unfortunate news ahead of the encounter is that tearaway flank Keegan Daniel picked up a hamstring injury during a light training practice.

Daniel has been one of the most impressive baby Sharks, with his superb angle running and high work rate around the park.

If the player is out then his place could go to either Warren Britz or fellow newcomer Conrad Stoltz.

Also battling injury is wing Cedric Mkhize (hamstring) while the bulldozing Craig Burden is recovering from a bout of flu.

There was some silver lining in the Sharks' injury cloud with flyhalf Steve Meyer and wing Dusty Noble running well after initial concerns about their fitness.

TV: Match will not be televised.

Sharks (probable): 15 Mzwandile Stick, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Ockie Vermeulen, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Craig Burden, 10 Steve Meyer, 9 Sandile Nxumalo, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Keegan Daniel, 6 Jaco Gouws (captain), 5 Wouter Moore, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Danie Saayman, 2 Skipper Badenhorst, 1 Kees Lensing

Replacements: 16 Jody Jenneker, 17 Sagoni Mxoli, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Conrad Stoltz/Warren Britz, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Brad Barritt, 22 Brett Hennessey/Cedric Mkhize