It will be the third time these fierce rivals lock horns in the final of the competition, and history awaits at the Suzuki Stadium, with either side set to become the first two-time SA Cup champions.

A few weeks ago, the Griquas secured a home semi-final after digging deep in the second half to beat the Pumas 44-34 during the round-robin phase. However, that thrilling victory now seems like a distant memory heading into a high-stakes final.

Pieter Bergh - Morgan Piek

There is no love lost between the two sides, with plenty of shared history and several former Griquas now wearing Pumas colours - and vice versa. The list of players who have featured in both previous SA Cup finals and will run out again on Saturday is extensive.

For the Griquas, experienced campaigners such as George Whitehead, Leon Lyons, Cameron Hufke, Mnombo Zwelendaba, Albert Liebenberg, Janco Uys and Bobby Alexander bring valuable big-match experience.

The Pumas, meanwhile, boast players like Clinton Swart, Sango Xamlashe, Tino Swanepoel, Ruwald van der Merwe, Sampie Swiegers, Thomas Bursey, Gustav du Rand and Wian van Niekerk - all battle-hardened players preparing for a third straight SA Cup final appearance.

Griquas coach Pieter Bergh said his side understands exactly what challenge awaits them, but stressed that a final is a completely different beast.

“When you play the Pumas, everybody says it starts with the set-piece, and that’s true, but it’s also about the gain-line battle,” said Bergh.

George Whitehead - Morgan Piek

“They’ve got big forwards, but they’ve also got very big backs like Wian van Niekerk, Sango Xamlashe, Jay-Cee Nel and Clinton Swart. Those guys play flat on the gain-line, and if you don’t win that battle and they get momentum while you’re on the back foot, they become incredibly difficult to play against.

“Add to that the big boots they have at 15, 10 and 9, and they can turn you around quickly.

“For us this week, it’s about controlling territory, getting into the right areas and winning the kicking battle.”

Sango Xamlashe and Clinton Swart - Morgan Piek

Bergh admitted that the pressure of being the defending Currie Cup champions, while still needing to qualify for the Currie Cup later this season through the SA Cup, created added pressure throughout the campaign.

“There’s been a lot of pressure on us because we are the Currie Cup champions and everybody wants to beat Griquas.

“Having to qualify for the SA Cup playoffs brought its own pressure, and although we only lost one game and finished top of the log, it was still a massive challenge mentally. In a way, that pressure has probably prepared us well for this final.

Nevaldo Fleurs and Caleb Abrahams - Morgan Piek

“We haven’t focused on the Currie Cup at all yet - that only starts in a few weeks’ time.

“Right now, all our focus is on hopefully getting over the line on Saturday.”

Saturday’s eagerly anticipated SA Cup final between the Suzuki Griquas and the Pumas at the Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley kicks off at 18:30.

Griquas – 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Sako Makata, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg (captain), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Ig Prinsloo, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Leon Lyons

Replacements – 16 Tiaan Lange, 17 Corné Lavagna, 18 Ntobeko Shezi, 19 Derik Pretorius, 20 Carel van der Merwe, 21 Caleb Abrahams, 22 Liam Koen, 23 Connor Mahoney

Pumas – 15 Jaycee Nel, 14 Lundi Msenge, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Tino Swanepoel, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 JJ Scheepers, 3 Sampie Swiegers (captain), 2 Gustav du Rand, 1 Kudzwai Dube

Replacements – 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Miyelani Ngobeni, 20 De Wet Marais, 21 Conor van Eden, 22 Nevaldo Fleurs, 23 Qamani Kota

Morgan Piek OFM Sport