The Bulls are desperate to get back on the winning track and they would like to continue to improve in their last couple of games.

The fixtures between these two teams have been very close over the last couple of years and it is interesting to note that the 'Canes surprised the Bulls at Loftus in 2006 but the Bulls on the other hand beat the Hurricanes twice in New Zealand during the last five years.

Key match-ups:

Wynand Olivier vs. Ma'a Nonu

The Hurricanes selected Nonu at inside centre for Saturday's clash and that means Olivier and Derick Hougaard will have a lot of tackling to do. Nonu is one of the most effective ball carriers in the Super 14 and his hard straight running lines have caused numerous problems for various teams. Olivier is starting to play his best rugby again and much will be expected from him on defence as well as attack.

Fourie du Preez vs. Piri Weepu

Weepu is just as dangerous from broken play as Du Preez and he is one of the better kicking scrumhalves in the tournament. He is one of the key players in the Hurricanes' set-up and he gives his team a lot of direction.

Eddie Jones said during the Live Chat that Du Preez is the best scrumhalf in the world and if he can get quick, clean ball from the forwards he will control the match from the base of the rucks.

Derick Kuün vs. Andrew Hore

Hore is a very strong ball carrier and is especially effective when he "pick and go." That means he can create momentum for his team from a slow ball and the fact that he can side-step makes him an even more efficient attacker. Kuün is one of a few hookers in world rugby that is able to cover the width of the field and the way he supports in the wide channels is of utmost value to the Bulls.

The battle of the loose forwards

The Bulls selected three Springboks in Pierre Spies, Wikus van Heerden and Pedrie Wannenburg in their loose trio and they will be up against three All Blacks in Rodney So'oialo, Chris Masoe and Jerry Collins.

All six are ball cariers, they can all defend very well and they are all streetwise on the subject of loose play.

This all ads up to a massive contest and the loose trio that will be able to dominate will gain a colossal advantage for their team.

What the players and coaches said:

"The Bulls are twice as physical and emotional when they play at Loftus because their fans get them really charged up. They haven't had a flash season so far and now that they are back home we can see them holding nothing back." – Hurricanes hooker Andrew Hore

"The Hurricanes is a team that is able to disrupt the opposition in the loose but the Bulls have come a long way since the beginning of the season. I would like us to use our possession better on Saturday and be more clinical when we execute our moves. We played a lot better in the last two matches and we are creating opportunities but I think at certain stages we weren't patient enough. Things will definitely change for us and the players are all taking responsibility. They are a tremendously proud group of players and we as a team need to be a lot smarter in the future in order to ensure that we get the right results on the scoreboard." – Bulls coach Frans Ludeke

"This is probably the toughest we have had it as a team over the past four or five years. I think we have been unlucky in the last two games not to get a result. It is a tough process but one we have to go through it. It will make us stronger for next year. We are confident that we will be back on top again. It is a tough and cruel competition but it is something we have to go through. It is a learning curve for all of us." – Bulls captain Fourie du Preez

What the media said:

"This is another tough one to predict. The Bulls haven't been too far off the pace in recent weeks but their inability to win a game on the four match Australasian tour has ended their semi final hopes. The big question is whether their minds will be on the job? They play four of their last five games at home so their fans will demand success, but they could cop a backlash from the Hurricanes this week. The Canes were robbed of a win last week against the Sharks and they should be fired up for this. I'll stick with the Hurricanes because they have more to play for." – Greg Clark on foxsport.com

"The Bulls won't be able to keep up with the pace of the Hurricanes on this occasion. The Canes are one team who do enjoy travelling, especially to South Africa. The Bulls forward-oriented approach will be found wanting once again. Hurricanes by 10." - Robbie Kempson on keo.co.za

"The Bulls are back at fortress Loftus after a nightmare tour but whether they can raise their game remains to be seen. Nine times out of ten, you would back the Bulls at Loftus, but they Bulls will somehow contrive to lose this one. 'Canes by ten." – Steve Farrell on rugby365.co.za

Recent results:

2007: Hurricanes won 17-9, New Zealand

2006: Hurricanes won 26-23, Pretoria

2005: Bulls won 21-12, New Zealand

2004: Bulls won 40-19, Pretoria

2003: Bulls won 46-36, New Zealand

The teams:

Vodacom Bulls: Zane Kirchner; Akona Ndungane, JP Nel, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana; Derick Hougaard, Fourie du Preez (captain); Pierre Spies, Wikus van Heerden, Pedrie Wannenburg, Danie Rossouw, Bakkies Botha, Rayno Gerber, Derick Kuün, Gurthrö Steenkamp.

Replacements: Bandise Maku, Werner Kruger, Jaco Engels, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Heini Adams, Morné Steyn, Deon Stegmann.

Hurricanes: Cory Jane; Hosea Gear, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Shannon Paku; Jimmy Gopperth, Piri Weepu; Rodney So'oialo (captain), Chris Masoe, Jerry Collins, Jason Eaton, Jeremy Thrush, Tim Fairbrother, Andrew Hore, John Schwalger.

Replacements: Hikawera Elliot, Neemia Tialata, Jacob Ellison, Craig Clarke, Scott Waldrom, Alby Mathewson, Tamati Ellison.

Venue: Loftus Versfeld

Kick off: 17: 05 (SA time) 15:05 GMT

Referee: James Leckie (Australia)

Touch judges: Geoff Acton (Australia), JC Fortuin (South Africa) Match day program: 12:30 Gates open 13:00 Cullinan vs. Dragons 14:30 TUT vs. Pretoria 16:10 Bulletjie rugby 17:05 Vodacom Bulls vs. Hurricanes