Some coaches dismiss pre-season matches as insignificant. The Bulls embrace them as a vital part of their campaign.

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Maybe that is why they have won three Super Rugby titles and remain the only South African franchise other than the Lions (then still Transvaal, a Super 10 title back in 1993) to have won the world’s most demanding competition outside Test rugby.

Bulls mentor Frans Ludeke makes no secret of the fact that he has very specific goals for his team when they take on the Eastern Province Kings in a ‘trial’ match on Saturday.

There is the obvious need to “shake off the cobwebs”, but the Bulls also need to put to the test the systems they have put in place – to gauge where they stand ahead of their season-opener against the Sharks on February 24.

It is their first outing and against a Kings team determined to convince their detractors that the South African Rugby Football Union was justified in guaranteeing them a Super Rugby spot in 2013.

For the Bulls the key is to get their own game in order.

“We have had a good build-up and we now want to take to the next phase,” Ludeke told this website, when quizzed about his goals for the match.

“We need to apply that [which we worked on in training] in a match situation, so that we can make adjustments for next week and hopefully smooth it all out ahead of the first game,” he said of their tournament opener later this month.

The Bulls will not field their first-choice starting XV before next week’s round of fixtures against the Cheetahs, but Ludeke said there is a very good reason for sending some of the squad’s younger members into battle.

“We have said all along that depth will be even more important in the [extended] competition this year and this is an opportunity to work towards that,” he said.

“Everybody who were involved at training have been divided up into two teams and the players for this week are looking forward to the opportunity to show their worth.

“It is also important for the players to see where they stand and what they need to do to improve.”

For the Kings it is more about individuals, with coach Alan Solomons keen on seeing which of his players are of Super Rugby quality.

“This is another opportunity for players to put their hands up,” Solomons told this website.

With SARU having given the franchise a free passage into Super Rugby for next year, the pressure will certainly mount on the Kings’ players to show they will not be cannon-fodder.

Solomons felt the Kings’ structures are in place for entry into Super Rugby.

“We had to have a strategic plan and a recruitment strategy which has always been aligned with playing Super Rugby in 2013,” he added.

He wants the individuals to “make a statement” about whether they are good enough to play Super Rugby.

Prediction: The Kings certainly look far more battle-hardened than the youthful Bulls – with players like captain Luke Watson, Darren Nell, Clint Newland, Hannes Franklin and Jaco Engels at the forefront. It would not be a major surprise if a highly motivated Kings selection was to edge the Bulls – by 10 points or less.

The teams:

EP Kings: 15 Mzwandile Stick, 14 Norman Nelson, 13 Monty Dumond, 12 Wayne Stevens, 11 Marcello Sampson, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Danie Faasen, 8 Luke Watson (captain), 7 Devin Oosthuizen, 6 Mpho Mbiyozo, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Darren Nell, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Hannes Franklin, 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements – from: Andre Schlechter, Bobby Dyer, Zane Kilian, Wayne van Heerden, Jacques Engelbrecht, Dustin Jinka, Earl Rose, Tiger Mangweni, Jaco Bekker, Shane Gates.

Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Sampie Mastriet, 13 Ulrich Beyers, 12 Lionel Cronjé, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Louis Fouché, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Jean Cook, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp (captain), 4 Gerrit-Jan van Vélze, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Dawie Steyn.
Replacements – from: Bongani Mbonambi, Louis Alberts, Daniel Adonga, Franco Mostert, Cornell Hess, Ruan Snyman, Francois Venter, Courtnall Skosan, Adri Jacobs, Clayton Blommetjies.

Date: Saturday, February 4
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 17.00 SA Time (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Phillip Bosch, Christie du Preez