The Sharks will be boosted for the next big push in the Super Rugby Competition, with a number of players coming back into contention for selection.

With the injury list looking like a shopping list just a few weeks ago, they are now heading to an almost full compliment of players.

The past weekend saw Tendai (Beast) Mtawarira, Ryan Kankowski, Odwa Ndungane and Marius Joubert all played for the Sharks XV in the Vodacom Cup and they will all be available for selection for this weekend’s clash against The Highlanders at Kings Park.

“We’ve got a couple of guys back who could come in for consideration for selection, which is good for us,” said coach John Plumtree.

The Sharks have had one bye-weekend and have seven matches remaining, with their second bye scheduled for the first week after the June Test window. The next month and a bit will be crucial for their play-off aspirations.

“This is the crunch period. We know we have to be successful over the next five games before that June break,” said Plumtree.

“We have a massive five games coming up before the June break but our main focus right now is on the Highlanders. We have to improve and the challenge has been dished out to the players. There are certain things we need to get right internally for that to happen and it’s what we’re focusing on at the moment.”

“Our preparation has to be more accurate. Its little things like that we need to work on and by working on them we hope it will make a difference at the end of the day.”

With Ross Skeate still injured and Alistair Hargreaves heading for England The Sharks still look a little brittle at lock. At looseforward Plumtree now have a selection quandry. but Jean Deysel or Willem Alberts could be re-traded to help out at lock in the interim.

The likely starters at looseforward seem to be Marcell Coetzee & Keegan Daniel, so there will be a monsterous battle for the last remaining looseforward spot.

“Marcell Coetzee and Keegan Daniel have been the stand-outs, the rest have been fighting for a spot and it’s up to them to take that opportunity. Jacques Botes played well against the Chiefs, Willem Alberts has been trying to find form, Jean Deysel is coming back from a nasty injury and played well last time out for the Sharks XV. Ryan Kankowski did all right in his first game back.”