The Blue Bulls have Zane Kirchner and Dewald Potgieter back for this clash and have four Springboks in the run-on team (with Jaco Pretorius and Gary Botha the others). WP are without Francois Louw, Gio Aplon and Juan de Jongh who got Bok call-ups since their match last week. Their only Springbok is Conrad Jantjes. It means that the playing fields are as level as they have not been in a long time during this stage of the competition. This is an opportunity the Blue Bulls must use.

WP is still undefeated and will be looking for five points to jump back to the top of the log. The Blue Bulls will not only move closer to the top of the log by winning today, they can also move into position to host a semi-final, should they play to their potential today.

Expert opinion: Andries Human (ex-Bulls, Pumas and Boland prop). “WP will win by between 15-20 points. The young guys in the Blue Bulls team are way too arrogant and big-headed. On top of that, the Blue Bulls are not playing well at the moment. WP are and have all the momentum on their side.”

The teams are:

Western Province: Conrad Jantjes, Fabian Juries, Tim Whitehead, Paul Bosch, Frikkie Welsh, Willem de Waal, Dewaldt Duvenage, Duane Vermeulen, Nick Koster, Pieter Louw, Anton van Zyl (c), Adriaan Fondse, Brok Harris, Tiaan Liebenberg, Wicus Blaauw. Replacements: Deon Fourie, JD Moller, Buhle Mxunyelwa, De Kock Steenkamp, Pieter Myburgh, Conrad Hoffmann, Lionel Cronje.

Blue Bulls: Zane Kirchner, Gerhard van den Heever, Jaco Pretorius, Stefan Watermeyer, John Mametsa, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Ruan Snyman, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, Dewald Potgieter, Derick Kuün, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Juandré Kruger, Werner Kruger, Gary Botha (c), Dean Greyling. Replacements: Bandise Maku, Bees Roux, Mthunzi Mabeta, CJ Stander, Dustin Jinka, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Jaco Engels.

Referee: Marius Jonker

Kick-off: 17h05