Bulls face must-win scenario

Although they have a game in hand on the teams above them, the fourth-placed Bulls trail the Waratahs, currently third, by four points on the log and a win will boost their play-off chances considerably.

With the second-placed Chiefs (also four points ahead) having a bye this weekend, victory could see the Bulls move into second place. It will also take them clear of the chasing pack with the Crusaders, Hurricanes and Highlanders all within striking distance.

A key factor for the Bulls will be the performance of their pack, which has struggled in the last two matches. They will also be looking to improve on their lineouts after a below par showing against the Crusaders last week.

Meanwhile the Sharks will be looking to consolidate their position at the top of the table when they meet the Vodacom Cheetahs in Bloemfontein at 15h00 on Saturday. It is the final away match of the campaign for the Durban franchise and they will want to get the points in the bag with four home matches lying ahead.

Local derbies though are always tough and unpredictable and the Cheetahs, who are in desperate need of a win, may fancy their chances of an upset given their intimate knowledge of the Sharks.

If the Bulls are successful against the Waratahs and the Sharks can come away from Bloemfontein with at least four points, the Durban side can open up a seven point lead at the top of the log and give themselves a great chance of securing a home semi-final.

The other two South African teams in the competition - the Vodacom Stormers and the Auto & General Lions - face daunting tasks as they go in search of much needed victories this weekend.

The Lions, who allowed the Chiefs to claw themselves back to a win in Hamilton last week, face the Blues in Auckland on Friday (09h35 SA time). The Lions are likely to be without skipper Cobus Grobbelaar and centre Doppies le Grange, who both sustained injuries against the Chiefs. Springbok centre Jaque Fourie will lead the side if Grobbelaar cannot play.

Coach Eugene Eloff has been encouraged by the improvement shown by his team in the last three matches but insists that they need to win the big games.

“I really thought the team has played well in the last three matches. Now we need to play for 80 minutes as we did against the Brumbies,” Eloff said.

The Blues will be fresh after a week off and will be looking for a win after successive defeats in their previous two outings. Victory will also keep the hosts in touch with the front-runners.

The Stormers visit what will be an emotionally-charged Canberra Stadium to face the Brumbies on Saturday (09h35 SA time). The Brumbies return home from their three week tour of South Africa amidst the grief surrounding Shawn's Mackay's tragic death, which will make this a momentous occasion.

The Brumbies, who are still in the running, will lift themselves in memory of their late team-mate whilst the Stormers will be playing for their survival after a disappointing start to their tour and amidst harsh criticism of their performances back home. Defeat could signal the end of their challenge in 2009.

The Highlanders return from their bye weekend to host the Reds in Invercargill on Saturday (07h30 SA time). The Highlanders have made steady progress after a slow start and find themselves in mid-table and very much in contention for the playoffs. The Reds, meanwhile, have gone in the opposite direction after losing their previous two matches and slipping to 13th position in the log. Home advantage will favour the hosts.

An interesting contest is on the cards between the Force and the Hurricanes in Perth on Friday (11h40). Although they are in the bottom half of the table, the home side is still capable of making the last four if they can build some momentum in the second half of the campaign. They will also be looking to get as many points in the bag before they travel to South Africa in May.

The Hurricanes are on the final leg of their tour that included two tough matches in South Africa against the Lions and the Sharks and they may feel the effects of travel with one rest day less at their disposal. Nevertheless, they are well placed in sixth position and will have no difficulty motivating themselves for the contest.