The Boland Cavaliers will look to take a big step towards the semi-finals, while the Sharks and Western Province chase their first wins in round five of the Currie Cup this weekend.

The clash between the Pumas and Cavaliers in Mbombela on Friday (5pm) promises to be one of the games of the season.

The hosts have already beaten Griquas in Kimberley and the Bulls in Pretoria, while suffering defeats to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein and the Lions in Nelspruit.

Boland, meanwhile, are enjoying a dream return to the Premier Division with home wins against the Cheetahs, Lions and Vodacom Bulls, their only setback coming against Griquas in Kimberley.

Coach Hawies Fourie’s side sit second on the log on 16 points, level with the first-placed Cheetahs, while the Bulls are sixth on 10.

TEAM: Boland bolster front row for Pumas clash

Pumas flyhalf Danrich Visagie is the tournament’s leading point-scorer with 50 and deadly accurate from anywhere inside the opposition half. The Cavaliers, though, will be without injured Blitzboks flyer Donavan Don, who tops the try-scoring charts with seven.

Also on Friday (7.10pm), the Sharks host Western Province in Durban, with both sides desperate to break their winless runs. The Sharks have scored just 27 points while conceding 143, while WP have managed 83 but leaked 166.

The Sharks have shown progress since their heavy defeat to the Bulls in Pretoria, running both the Cheetahs and Griquas close in recent weeks, while WP impressed with a spirited comeback in Bloemfontein against the Cheetahs in round four.

MORE: Sharks seek ‘complete performance’

Saturday’s fixture in Bloemfontein (2pm) sees the Cheetahs host the Lions.

Coach Frans Steyn’s team have won three in a row since their opening-round loss to Boland, while the Lions edged the Pumas last week to stay in touch with the leaders.

Both teams’ only defeat came in Wellington against Boland.

ALSO: Blue Bulls back signs for Red Bulls

On Sunday, the Bulls will be out to end a two-game losing streak when they face Griquas at Grizzly Park in Daspoort.

Coach Phiwe Nomlomo’s team opened their campaign with convincing wins over WP and the Sharks but then slipped to defeats against the Pumas and Boland.

In contrast, Pieter Bergh’s Griquas have strung together three consecutive home wins since losing their opener to the Pumas and will be targeting a first away victory of the season.

Round 5 fixtures:
Friday
Pumas vs Boland Cavaliers, Nelspruit, 5pm
Sharks vs Western Province, Durban, 7.10pm
Saturday
Cheetahs vs Lions, Bloemfontein, 2pm
Sunday
Bulls vs Griquas, Daspoort, 3pm

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images