Last year the Pumas beat the Griquas 26-19 in an historic final and on Friday afternoon they have the opportunity to exact revenge.

The Peacock Blues will however need a win if they are to stand a chance of reaching the semi-finals and they will go into the game with confidence.

The Griquas coach, Pieter Bergh, told OFM Sport that they need to control the game.

“The focus was on us and what we needed to do, not just for this game,” said Bergh.

“Against the Cheetahs as well, and I thought that tactically we were brilliant against Western Province. With the things we wanted to do, we executed.

“We need to be tactically good against the Pumas as well. There are certain things that they do well and they want you to do as well.

“We must make sure to put ourselves in a position where they can use their strengths against us.

Bergh added that as the defending champions the Pumas will feel the pressure, especially after their poor run of form of last which sees them in a position where they have to fight for a spot in the semi-finals.

“There is definitely pressure - as the defending champions returning to where they won the final last year, they will obviously go back and draw on some of the memories to hopefully get confidence from that.

“It will be up to us to put them under pressure. In the last few weeks there are certain things they didn't handle well in the game. We have to put pressure on them and be good enough to maintain it to hopefully get the same result other teams got against them.”

Friday afternoon’s big match in Kimberley kicks off at 15:00.

Griquas - 15 George Whitehead, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Carl Els, 7 Hanru Sirgel (captain), 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Dylan Sjöblom, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Kudzwai Dube.

Replacements - 16 Sean Swart, 17 Cebo Dlamini 18 Justin Forwood, 19 Johan Retief, 20 Stephan Smit, 21 Raegan Oranje, 22 Eddie Fouché, 23 Sango Xamlashe.

Pumas - 15 Devon Williams, 14 Andrew Kota, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Etienne Taljaard, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Franna Kleinhans, 6 André Fouché, Shane Kirkwood, 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Simon Raw, 2 PJ Jacobs, 1 Corné Fourie.

Replacements - 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Dewald Maritz, 19 Malembe Mpofu, 20 Ruwald van der Merwe, 21 Giovan Snyman, 22 Gene Willemse, 23 Wian van Niekerk.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport