With excitement levels reaching fever pitch in Durban, and indeed the country, Sharks coach John Plumtree has announced his team for face Western Province in the Currie Cup final on Saturday. Kick-off is at 17:30.

According to Sharks online editor Michael Marnewick, wing Odwa Ndungane comes into the starting 15 with Riaan Swanepoel taking his place on the bench in the only changes to the side that beat the Blue Bulls two weeks ago.

With Western Province retaining the same side from their semi-final match against Free State, both coaches can count on continuity going into The Absa Stadium Durban showdown as teams one and two battle it out for the greatest domestic rugby trophy in the county’s history.

Many will point to The Sharks’ effort against the Blue Bulls in the semi-final as a product of their immense determination, but John Plumtree believes the players are going to have to lift their levels even more if they want to come away victorious.

“We will have to raise our game, it’s a final and everything is going to happen quicker and everything needs to be much sharper. There are going to be fewer opportunities and it’s about taking them. Finals and semis are way more intense just because of what’s at stake.”

With a full-house expected, 54 000 passionate fans are going to be treated to some exciting, tense and tough rugby as the top two performing sides in the tournament go head-to-head and while The Sharks coach acknowledges the positive impact a home crowd does have on a team, he adds that the players must take that positive energy to make things happen.

“It’s great that we’re playing the final at home and able to treat our fans to this kind of event, we’ve worked really hard to get here all year and now we’ve got it,” he says. “However, while the support is great, it’s not going to bring home the trophy; we have to make it happen ourselves and the players understand that.

“But it will be great to have the crowd behind us when we get momentum and rhythm into our game.”

Having waited two weeks for the grand event, excitement levels are high, but the added bonus is the rest and rehab the extra week afforded the players from the respective teams.

“Obviously having that extra week between the final and semi enabled us to get over a few knocks and freshen everyone up which is great. Western Province will be feeling pretty good about themselves and so are we.”

Teams:

Sharks:

15. Louis Ludik, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Stefan Terblanche (captain), 12. Andries Strauss, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Willem Alberts, 6. Keegan Daniel, 5. Alistair Hargreaves, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements: 16. Craig Burden, 17. Eugene van Staden, 18. Anton Bresler, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Rory Kockott, 21. Andre Pretorius, 22. Riaan Swanepoel