The Currie Cup heads into a blockbuster fourth round this weekend with the Pumas, Cheetahs and Boland Kavaliers now locked together at the top of the table on 11 points after a dramatic shake-up in round 3.

On Friday, Griquas kick off proceedings at 15h00 in Kimberley against the Sharks XV, who are still chasing their first win of the season.

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Saturday’s double-header sees the high-flying Pumas host the Lions in Nelspruit, while the Cheetahs welcome a winless Western Province side to Bloemfontein. On Sunday, Boland will aim to defend their fortress in Wellington against the Vodacom Bulls, who dropped from first to fourth after last weekend’s defeat.

Last weekend saw both the Bulls and Lions suffer their first defeats of the season, as the Pumas, Cheetahs and Boland all surged into joint first place. Griquas opened the round with a commanding 47-17 win over DHL WP in Kimberley, running in seven tries, while the Pumas stunned the Bulls at Loftus with a 41-7 demolition, scoring 31 unanswered second-half points. The Cheetahs edged the Sharks XV 7-5 in a tense, low-scoring arm wrestle in Durban, while Boland wrapped up the weekend by overpowering the Lions 29-10 in Wellington, sealing their second home win.

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With just one log point separating the top six sides, round 4 promises another shake-up in the race for the coveted trophy.

Photo: Catherine Kotze/Gallo Images