Last week the Peacock Blues kicked off their campaign on a high note with a convincing 37-13 win over the Sharks at Kings Park in Durban.

The Pumas in their turn suffered a narrow 38-37 defeat at the hands of the Golden Lions at Ellis Park in this Johannesburg. This after leading the match for the most part.

Friday evenings’ game will be important for the Griquas self-confidence as they head down the road next week to face the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in the Bloemfontein.

The Puma will be looking to earn their first win of the campaign, and also look to set the record straight after losing 28-13 to the Griquas in the final of the 2019 SuperSport Rugby Challenge last month.

The Griquas will welcome the return of the former Springbok winger, Bjorn Basson, who returns to the place where it all started for him as a player. Now a seasoned campaigner, and recently having represented the Southern Kings in the Guinness PRO14, Basson, has been named on the bench for the clash.

Friday’s clash between the Griquas and Pumas at Tafel Lager Park in Kimberley kicks off at 17:00.

Griquas - 15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Michal Haznar, 12 André Swarts, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 George Whitehead (captain), 9 Zak Burger, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 AJ le Roux, 1 Khwezi Mona.

Replacements - 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Mox Mxoli, 18 ohan Momson, 19 Zandré Jordaan, 20 Chriswill September, 21 Tinus de Beer, 22 Bjorn Bassson, 23 Ruan Kramer.

Pumas – TBC

@MorganPiek OFM Sport