The Cell C Sharks will play in their 14th Vodacom Super Rugby knock-out match when they host the Highlanders in the second Qualifier for 2014 at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban on Saturday afternoon.

The newly-crowned South African Conference champions are one of the most successful teams in the history of the competition when it comes to reaching the playoff rounds, although they are yet to take the trophy back to Durban.

The Sharks are without doubt the most successful team in the history of the competition never to have won the title.

That is one moniker that every Shark supporter is dreaming of changing, ever since the heartbreaking loss to the Bulls at Kings Park in the 2007 Super 12 Final.

The Vodacom Bulls (including Northern Transvaal) have reached 11 play-off’s and won the competition three times, followed by the DHL Stormers (six play-off’s), Cats (two) and Toyota Cheetahs (one).

This will be the third year since the expansion of Vodacom Super Rugby from 14 to 15 teams in 2011 that the Cell C Sharks have made the top six.

For their opponents on Saturday though, this will be their sixth playoff in Vodacom Super Rugby, but perhaps more tellingly is the fact that they last featured in the knockout phase of the competition in 2002.

On Saturday, the only team this year to deny the Cell C Sharks a solitary Log Point in any of their 16 Vodacom Super Rugby matches to date, the Highlanders, return to Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban for the second Qualifier of 2014.

The men from Otago are also the only team this year to cross the KwaZulu-Natalians’ tryline four times. That happened in Round 11, when the Highlanders caused a major upset by beating the Cell C Sharks by 34-18.

Jake White, the architect of ‘Jakeball’

That loss on home soil, back in April, is significant because the Sharks were totally outplayed that day in a four-tries-to-none drubbing that highlighted the limitations of White’s conservative gameplan, now referred to in Australia as ‘Jakeball’.

Description of Jakeball:

Jakeball is actually a far more sophisticated method than most rugby commentators give it credit for.

You never play any rugby inside your own half.

Unless kicking very deep for territory, you put intense pressure on the opposition catchers of your high ball.

You have a superior lineout that ensures you win your own ball and contest ferociously and often successfully for the opposition ball.

You put enormous pressure on the opposition ball runners when they are trying to get passing movements going.

Your scrum forces kicking penalties.

Inside the opposition half you use the big runners to smash the ball into the defence until holes are created.

You kick all the penalties your lineout, scrum, high ball chasing, tackling and running can force.

The Jakeball game can only be a winner if you kick the majority of your penalties and the opposition miss some of theirs.

It sparked an impressive reaction from White’s team as they went on a successful tour directly afterwards, but the way in which the Highlanders cut the normally rock-solid Sharks defence apart will not be quickly forgotten.

Of course, that’s all history now. If the Sharks muscle up like they did at Newlands last week, the Highlanders’ famed attacking threat will get shut down.

That is the gist of how this game is lining up – the Sharks’ massive pack trying to strangle the life out of the Highlanders all-action approach.

But knock-outs are different. There are no bonus points at stake and all that matters in the end, is getting more points than your opponent.

And while the Cell C Sharks might not have set the world alight with their attack this year, there is no denying that they had the best defence in the competition – they have conceded only 22 tries in their 16 pool matches, while the next best is 24 conceded by the table-topping Waratahs.

On the other hand, the Highlanders’ defence has been joint second worst in the competition, with 52 tries leaked (the same as the Reds with only the Toyota Cheetahs’ 59 a worst defensive record). This can be ascribed to the men from Otago’s 82% tackle success rate, which is the lowest in the competition this year.

On average, the Cell C Sharks have conceded 18.3 points per game (293 points in total), which is second best behind the Waratahs’ 17 per game for 272 in total.

The match in Durban also features the team which look after their possession the best – the Cell C Sharks’ 17 minutes and 32 seconds on average per game – against the team with the least amount of time in possession of the ball – the Highlanders’ average of only 14 minutes per game.

Players to watch

For the Sharks:

He may be on the bench and will only be introduced in the second half, but the return from injury of Patrick Lambie is sure to get plenty of attention. Frans Steyn, at flyhalf, remains an enigma – talent in abundance, but not always consistent. The loose forwards – Ryan Kankowski, Willem Alberts and Marcell Coetzee – will be key, as will be the discipline of Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis.

For the Highlanders:

The return of All Black fullback Ben Smith has caused more than just a stir in Durban and Dunedin. Midfielder Malakai Fekitoa has been one of the finds of the season, while Lima Sopoaga and Aaron Smith are the generals giving direction.

Head to head:

The midfield battle between Springbok JP Petersen and All Black Malakai Fekitoa is worth the entry feel alone. The showdown at No.8 is one of contrasting styles – the skill and evasive running of Ryan Kankowski against the brute force of Nasi Manu. Then there are the set pieces – the line-outs where Stephan Lewies and Anton Bresler will take on Joe Wheeler and Jarrad Hoeata, and the scrums where Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis and Thomas du Toit seemingly will have an edge over Chris King, Ged Robinson and Kane Hames.

Previous Results:

• 25 April 2014: Cell C Sharks 18 Highlanders 34 (Durban)
• 4 May 2013: Cell C Sharks 22 Highlanders 25 (Dunedin)
• 5 May 2012: Cell C Sharks 28 Highlanders 11 (Durban)
• 20 March 2010: Cell C Sharks 30 Highlanders 16 (Dunedin)
• 2 May 2009: Cell C Sharks 23 Highlanders 15 (Durban)
• 11 April 2008: Cell C Sharks 17 Highlanders 17 (Dunedin)
• 17 February 2007: Cell C Sharks 23 Highlanders 16 (Durban)
• 18 March 2006: Cell C Sharks 26 Highlanders 11 (Dunedin)
• 19 March 2005: Cell C Sharks 7 Highlanders 43 (Durban)
• 12 March 2004: Cell C Sharks 36 Highlanders 35 (Dunedin)
• 21 March 2003: Cell C Sharks 19 Highlanders 23 (Durban)
• 2 March 2002: Cell C Sharks 5 Highlanders 45 (Dunedin)
• 10 March 2001: Cell C Sharks 30 Highlanders 29 (Durban)
• 3 March 2000: Cell C Sharks 20 Highlanders 27 (Dunedin)
• 26 March 1999: Cell C Sharks 32 Highlanders 8 (Durban)
• 20 March 1998: Cell C Sharks 35 Highlanders 41 (Dunedin)

Teams:

Cell C Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Paul Jordaan, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frans Steyn, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Captain), 1 Thomas du Toit
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Jean Deysel, 21 Charl McLeod, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Tonderai Chavhanga.

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (Co-captain), 14 Richard Buckman, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (Co-captain), 7 Shane Christie, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Chris King, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Kane Hames
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Matias Diaz, 18 JP Koen, 19 Josh Bekhuis, 20 Tom Franklin, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Trent Renata, 23 Gareth Evans.

Date: Saturday 19 July
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-Off: 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT, 03:05 Sunday NZ Time, 01:05 Sunday AEST)
Expected weather: Mostly sunny and beautiful. High of 22°C and a low of 10°C
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)