The match-up between the Toyota Free State Cheetahs and Vodacom Blue Bulls is expected to be tense as the teams fight for survival in the series. The hosts will enter the clash with confidence following their morale-boosting 52-21 victory against the GWK Griquas last week, while the Blue Bulls are expected to feel the pressure after coming off four back-to-back defeats. But given the fact that the Cheetahs have a five-point lead on the log, the Blue Bulls will be aware that it will take a big performance to sneak into the semifinal.

The Sharks and DHL Western Province will have semifinal spots in their sights when they line up in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division this weekend, while the Vodacom Blue Bulls and GWK Griquas will be fighting for survival as only three pool rounds remain.

The recall of a fit-again Handrè Pollard, first starts to William Small-Smith and David Bullbring and returns for Sampie Mastriet and Marcel van der Merwe highlights the Vodacom Blue Bulls team announcement ahead of their Absa Currie Cup clash against GWK Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday.

The Vodacom Blue Bulls outlasted GWK Griquas 15-9 in a scrappy Absa Currie Cup match at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar made one change to his team to play GWK Griquas in an Absa Currie Cup match at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

Junior Springboks and Vodacom Blue Bulls flyhalf Handrè Pollard will train with the Vodacom Blue Bulls today and if all goes well, will be considered for their match against GWK Griquas at Loftus Versfeld on Friday. Vodacom Blue Bulls team doctor Org Strauss confirmed on Monday that Pollard has recovered fully from a shoulder injury and will be able to play on the weekend.

One lucky Vodacom Blue Bulls supporter can win four grand stand tickets, courtesy of the Blue Bulls Company and Vodacom, for Friday night’s Absa Currie Cup match between the Vodacom Blue Bulls and GWK Griquas at Loftus Versfeld.

Nine uncapped players, six of whom have not been part of the national set-up before, have been included in a 34-man Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Incoming Series involving Italy, Samoa and Scotland later this month.

It can be seen as a Junior Springboks reunion, but it is in fact the Blue Bulls Vodacup side that will face GWK Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday in the opening weekend of the Vodacom Cup.