This will ensure the side from Bloemfontein of at least a home semi-final and perhaps even a home final.

The Blue Bulls and Sharks are currently in 2nd and 3rd respectively on 24 points, but each just has a single game left, while the Cheetahs have two games left.

A full-house of points by the Bulls and Sharks won’t be enough to top the standings should the Cheetahs secure just a win this weekend.

The Pumas in their turn haven’t won a game yet this season leaving them in 8th in the standings on 5 points, four clear of the bottom-of-the-log EP Kings.

While the Pumas haven’t won a single game, the Cheetahs are well aware that they still are an exceptionally dangerous unit and can spring a major surprise anytime.

The last time these two sides met in the Currie Cup they played to a 37-37 draw in the Lowveld.

The Cheetahs received a major boost this week with the captain Francois Venter and Sergeal Petersen having recovered from their respective injuries and both players will be running out in the match.

Venter told OFM Sport that they expect a physical battle and they cannot underestimate their opponents on Friday.

“The Pumas are always tough, especially there, last year we played to a draw there,” said Venter.

“We must pitch up for the game, it’s going to be their last home game so they will pitch up and give nothing less than their best.

“We’re not going to be focussing on that, as the competition started we said that we are going to compare ourselves to the Super Rugby standard and take it week-by-week, the same applies for this week.

“We’ve got a bigger picture and we must focus on our own job.”

The Griquas will be hosting Western Province on Friday evening as well and it is a must-win match for the side from Kimberley.

If they are to stand any chance of making the semi-finals they will have to win their matches against Province and against the Cheetahs next week in Bloemfontein.

Friday evening’s match between the Pumas and the Free State at the Mbombela Stadium kicks off at 18:35, while at 19:00 the Griquas host Province in Kimberley.

Pumas - 15 Heinrich Steyl, 14 Ruwellyn Isbell, 13 Hoffman Maritz, 12 Hennie Skorbinski, 11 Jean-Paul Lewis, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Kevin Luiters, 8 Renaldo Bothma (Captain), 7 Lambert Groenewald, 6 Brian Shabangu, 5 Jannie Stander, 4 Stephan Greeff, 3 Louis Alberts, 2 Frankie Herne, 1 Khwezi Mona.

Replacements - 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 De-Jay Terblanche, 18 Jeremy Jordaan, 19 Carel Greef, 20 Emile Temperman, 21 Devon Williams, 22 Tyler Fisher.

Toyota FS Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter (Captain), 12 Nico Lee, 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Tier Schoeman, 5 Reniel Hugo (Vice-captain), 4 Justin Basson, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Charles Marais.

Replacements – 16 Elandre Huggett, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Armandt Koster, 19 Tienie Burger, 20 Zee Mkhabela, 21 Fred Zeilinga, 22 William Small-Smith.

Morgan Piek/OFM News