Sharks face their bogey team

If the Sharks needed any reminding that they were mere mortals, it happened just under a fortnight ago.

Dick Muir had sent in his youthful squad to battle a determined Griquas outfit in Kimberley and unfortunately the Sharks were found wanting when they went down by a point.

The loss wasn't a train smash and it actually helped Muir learn more about the depth in the province.

Last week the Sharks fielded their strongest combination and the Blue Bulls had no answer for AJ Venter's fighting Trojans when they stormed Loftus and won 37-28.

Muir has slightly tinkered with the team that beat the Bulls for Saturday's outing against the Free State Cheetahs - Waylon Murray comes in on the wing for Dusty Noble and a fit again Brendon Botha replaces Danie Saayman at tight-head prop.

The Cheethas have also had the mockers on the Sharks in the last two seasons beating the men-in-black four times in the domestic competition and once this year in the Super 14.

The Sharks should need no extra-motivation to down their bogey team, however, the loquacious Cheetahs loose-prop Ollie le Roux spiced things up this week when he said he "didn't fear" any of the home team's front rankers.

Le Roux is likely to play during the final quarter, coming off the reserves bench as an impact player. The Sharks and Cheetahs have been the form teams in the competition and chess board has been set up intriguingly.

The Sharks are at home and if they emulate their performance against the Bulls, then you'd be hard pressed to find a pundit who'd back the Cheetahs in Durban.

Then again you can never underestimate the guile of Free State coach Rassie Erasmus and he may just have successfully plotted how to starve the Sharks of possession.

If the Cheetahs can win the possession stakes at the Absa Stadium, then Muir's men will be unable to initiate their devastating rolling mauls from the lineout.

No "go forward" ball means the creative Sharks backs will not be able to attack with purpose and line breaks will be rare.

Let's not forget the Cheetahs have perfected the art of beating the Sharks and it has often revolved around being frugal on defence and playing with minimal risk.

In the past the Cheetahs' successful blueprint has been built around keeping the game structured and slowing down the tempo to a heart beat. This is because in a furiously paced game, there is more chance for handling errors which leads to turnovers and the skillful Sharks backline have learnt to counteract attack from broken play.

So, don't be disappointed on Saturday if the Cheetahs master plan does not hinge on speed and panache, but instead relies on cunning in the Shark tank.

Cheetahs:

15 Bevin Fortuin, 14 Giscard Pieters, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Dale Heidtmann, 11 Gavin Passons, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Ryno van der Merwe, 7 Bian Vermaak, 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 Corniel van Zyl, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez

Replacements: 16 Jaco du Toit, 17 Ollie le Roux, 18 Rory Duncan, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Falie Oelschig, 21 Gaffie du Toit, 22 Phillip Burger

Sharks:

15 Odwa Ndungane, 14 Waylon Murray, 13 Gcobani Bobo, 12 Grant Rees, 11 Craig Burden, 10 Brad Barritt, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 AJ Venter (captain), 7 Jacques Botes, 6 Warren Britz, 5 Wouter Moore, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Brendon Botha, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Kees Lensing

Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst,17 Danie Saayman, 18 Ryan Kankowski, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Scott Mathie, 21 Andries Strauss, 22 Francois Steyn

Kick-off: 5pm; TV: SS1/M-Net