Both teams have won all four their matches with bonus points so far, but this clash at Nelspruit Rugby Club will see one of the two take a firmer hold on the top of the standings.
The hosts – and defending champions – are currently in second spot, behind the visitors from the Northern Cape, due to points’ difference, and will look at this clash with anticipation as they will play in front of a supportive crowd.
The two sides have only met once in the three years of the competition, with iSG Pumas edging the Tafel Lager Griquas 32-20 in Oudtshoorn in last year’s final.
So far in 2019, the men from Kimberley have scored 27 tries and conceded only nine, while the Lowvelders have scored 21 and conceded 14. In fact, the ‘Kwaste’ have the best points’ difference in the North Section and are the only side not to concede more than 100 points.
Elsewhere in the North Section, some significant matches will take place. On Saturday, both the Leopards and Windhoek Draught Welwitschias will be chasing a first win in the competition in Windhoek, while at Sunday’s Rugby Festival at Bosman Stadium in Brakpan, two competitive matches will thrill the crowd.
The Xerox Golden Lions XV and Vodacom Blue Bulls will be involved in a fierce battle, with the Johannesburg side (16 log points) looking to improve on their third place on the log.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls have to win to keep their playoff hopes alive, especially if the Down Touch Griffons, also on 10 log points, manage to get past the Valke.
The hosts could in fact be the biggest winners at the East Rand spectacle, should they beat the Welkom team and the Vodacom Blue Bulls come up short. This will allow them to move past both the Welkom and Pretoria sides to fourth on the log.
North Section fixtures:
Saturday, 25 May:
iSG Pumas v Tafel Lager Griquas
Kick-off: 15h00
Venue: Nelspruit Rugby Club, Nelspruit
Referee: Ben Crouse
Windhoek Draught Welwitschias v Leopards
Kick-off: 16h00
Venue: Hage Geingob Stadium, Windhoek
Referee: Ruhan Meiring
Sunday, 26 May (Rugby Festival, Bosman Stadium, Brakpan):
Vodacom Blue Bulls v Xerox Golden Lions XV
Kick-off: 12h30
Referee: Quinton Immelman
TMO: Pro Legoete
TV: SS10
Valke v Down Touch Griffons
Kick-off: 14h30
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
TMO: Pro Legoete
TV: SS10