The second round of matches to determine who plays in the Currie Cup Premier division next year will be played today. The Leopards play SWD Eagles at Outeniqua Park on Friday (17h05) followed by the EP Kings against the Pumas at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium at 19h10.

SWD Eagles v Leopards

The Platinum Leopards are favourites to remain in the Absa Currie Cup and only require two log points from their clash against the SWD Eagles at Outeniqua Park on Friday (17h05) to keep their status as a Premier Division competitor.

The Potchefstroom side secured maximum points from their first promotion/relegation game against their George opponents at Profert Olën Park on Saturday and boast a superior points’ differential of 15 points.

The result means that the hosts must secure maximum points from their fixture against the Platinum Leopards and deny their opponents any log points when these sides meet on Friday afternoon.

The SWD Eagles will fancy their chances of causing an upset over the Potchefstroom side as they have enjoyed a solid home run at Outeniqua Park during the last couple of seasons.

The side, coached by Johan Lerm, have only lost four home games during the last two seasons in George. They secured home victories over the Valke (57-35), Griffons (42-27), Border Bulldogs (33-12) and the Boland Cavaliers (45-36) this year, but conceded a 19-17 defeat to the EP Kings in week six of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup First Division.

The Eagles defeated the Griffons (32-30) in their semi-final clash played at Outeniqua Park but then lost the final of the Absa Currie Cup First Division against the Eastern Province Kings earlier this month by 16-12.

The Platinum Leopards on the other hand will have the chance of breaking their duck on the road when they travel to George for their second promotion/relegation game against the Eagles. The visitors did not win one away game this season.

The Eagles have been forced to re-shuffle their backline following Baldwin McBean’s two-week suspension for a dangerous tackle last week. As a result, Bobby Joubert shifts from fullback to wing, Jandré Blom moves from scrumhalf to fullback and Dougie Hellmuth comes into the run-on side at scrumhalf. Marchell Potts has been called up to the bench.

The Leopards have made a solitary change to their run-on side with Draad Linde replacing Mockford in what will be his 100th first-class match. Coach Leon Boshoff has also brought under-21 captain Joubert Engelbrecht into the squad.

Key Battle: Shaun Raubenheimer v Wilhelm Koch. The clash between these two promising talents will be vitally important in the possession stakes.

Prediction: Home ground advantage improves the Eagles slim chance of still qualifying for the Premier Division but an unwanted backline overhaul will effectively put paid to their dream.

Teams

SWD Eagles:

15 Jandré Blom, 14 Bobby Joubert, 13 Sinethemba Zweni, 12 Bevin Fortuin (captain), 11 Joe Breytenbach, 10 Ambrose Barends, 9 Dougie Hellmuth, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Shaun Raubenheimer, 6 Lyndon Hartnick, 5 Henry Grimes, 4 Hendrik Eksteen, 3 Wikus Harmse, 2 Johannes Grobler, 1 Jacobus Terblanche.

Replacements: 16 Jandre de Beer, 17 Anton van der Westhuizen, 18 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 19 Danzel Manuel, 20 Eric Zana, 21 Deroy Rhoode, Marchell Potts.

Leopards:

15 Danie Dames, 14 Dumisani Matyeshana, 13 Cornelius Rautenbach, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Colin Lloyd, 10 Clayton Durand, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Reginald Kember, 7 Wilhelm Koch (captain), 6 Victor Joubert, 5 Draad Linde, 4 Christo van Niekerk, 3 Eric Coetzee, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Bennie Uys.

Replacements: 16 Stoffel Duvenhage, 17 Divan Kotze, 18 Brad Mockford, 19 Bennie Adams, 20 Theo van Wyk, 21 Joubert Engelbrecht, 22 Sarel Mar

EP Kings v Pumas

The Eastern Province Kings will have the chance of advancing to next year’s Premier Division competition if they can topple the Barloworld Toyota Pumas at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday at 19h10.

Both sides are currently on three log points after they played out an exciting 36-36 draw at the Puma Stadium in Witbank last Friday. The Barloworld Toyota Pumas ran in six tries while the Kings scored four five-pointers from that game.

However victory for either side in Port Elizabeth with guarantee themselves a place in next year’s Absa Currie Cup Premier Division while the loser will battle it out in next season’s First Division.

The EP Kings have been in superb form at home this season and have only conceded one defeat at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium – against the SWD Eagles (25-8). The Barloworld Toyota Pumas on the other hand has only secured two victories on the road this year – against the Xerox Lions (34-27) and the Platinum Leopards (27-26).

In the event of a second stalemate, the team who scored the most tries would win a place in the Premier Division and if equal, the Pumas will retain their spot.

Springbok centre De Wet Barry will lead out the Eastern Province Kings in the absence of the injured Mzwandile Stick. Anthony Fenner fills in at fullback and Mlindazwe Nqoro comes onto the bench.

Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse has made just one change with Johan Jackson replacing Ashwin Scott on the wood.

Key Battle: Monty Dumond v Elgar Watts. Both flyhalves missed a host of shots at goal last week and as that first leg encounter showed, the teams have to make the most of their opportunities.

Prediction: The EP Kings surprised many with their away draw last week and you have to believe they are capable of getting the job done at home. They might just be the hungrier of the two teams to return to top-flight rugby and winner-takes-all matches often come down to who wants it more.

Teams

Eastern Province Kings:

15 Anthony Fenner, 14 Paul Perez, 13 Wayne Stevens, 12 De Wet Barry (captain), 11 Norman Nelson, 10 Monty Dumond, 9 Gerrie Odendaal, 8 JJ Gagiano, 7 Devin Oosthuizen, 6 Jacques Potgieter, 5 Willem Stoltz, 4 Rory Duncan, 3 André Schlechter, 2 Jaco Fourie, 1 Pumlani Nodikita.

Replacements: 16 Nio Halangahu, 17 Riaan Vermeulen, 18 Lungelo Payi, 19 Darron Nell, 20 Donald Stevens, 21 Mlindazwe Nqoro, 22 Jaco Bekker.

Pumas:

15 Carl Bezuidenhout, 14 Vainon Willis, 13 Shaun Venter, 12 Tian Meyer, 11 Allistair Kettledas, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Hendrik van der Nest, 8 Christo le Roux, 7 Corné Steenkamp, 6 Jaco Bouwer, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Luan Velthuizen, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 Hannes Franklin (captain), 1 Ronnie Uys.

Replacements: 16 Hans van Dyk, 17 Dawie Steyn, 18 Dee-Jay Terblanche, 19 Willem Serfontein, 20 Eduan van der Walt, 21 Ricardo Croy, 22 Johan Jackson.