The players who played in the 38-33 win over Western Province on Saturday have all received a clean bill of health for the match this week.

While normally there is some indication by now as to who will play, the coach Franco Smith, told OFM Sport that he is having sleepless nights.

Smith added that while the end-goal is to win the Currie Cup, the focus remains with the first hurdle and that is to get past the Sharks.

"We don't play this game to lose, so of course we love to go all the way. We started training for this from the first day we got together. We have followed this sequence before in 2016. 

"In 2015-16 we followed the same pattern.

"The game this weekend is the first one. We plan to win the competition. This weekend we are not playing against the Sharks, we are indeed playing against the Currie Cup. 

"We've got to be the best we can again, and that will stay the focus. This is just another opportunity to exhibit that, our skill sets, and the way we play.

"We are not looking further than this weekend, but we know that we have prepped to win the competition."

This time around there is a largely new crop of players in the squad, however, there are handful of players who won the Currie Cup three years ago. 

They include the captain, Tian Meyer; the props, Charles Marais and Ox Nche; the hooker, Jacques du Toit; the fullback, Clayton Blommetjies, and the centre/winger, William Small-Smith. 

Small-Smith, was not selected for the final back then, however, he played a large majority of the games in that campaign.

The centre, Dries Swanepoel, also played in that particular final, however, back then he still donned the colours of the Blue Bulls. The flyhalf, Tian Schoeman, was another player who played in the 2016 final for the Bulls. 

In that particular year he was the leading points scorer in the Currie Cup, with a total of 146 points.

Smith will be announcing his team for the semi-final on Thursday afternoon, and at this stage everyone who played in the game against Western Province has a clean bill of health and is available for selection.

Smith will name his team for the semi-final tomorrow. Saturday semi-final at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 17:00, while at 14:00 the Golden Lions tackle the Tafel Lager Griquas at Ellis Park.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport