The defending champions have made only a handful of changes to their matchday 23 for the clash, which is a repeat of last year’s final and also forms part of the union’s 140th anniversary celebrations.

Most of the changes have been forced by the return of first-choice players who have recovered from injury.

Up front, Malembe Mpofu returns to the starting line-up in the second row alongside captain Albert Liebenberg, while Carel van der Merwe starts at flank after Marco de Witt picked up an injury early in last week’s 24-21 win over the Toyota Cheetahs.

Dylan Maart returns from a shoulder niggle he sustained against the Bulls - Morgan Piek

In the backline, Dylan Maart has recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered against the Bulls and returns on the right wing, with Connor Mahoney moving to the bench.

Among the replacements, loosehead prop Eddie Davids returns from compassionate leave, Derik Pretorius is back after serving his suspension, while the exciting Dillon Smith has recovered from the injury he sustained against the Stormers.

Coach Pieter Bergh told OFM Sport that Saturday’s match carries significant importance for several reasons, with the biggest being the opportunity to finish the round at the top of the Currie Cup standings as they continue their push for a home semi-final and potentially a home final.

Eddie Davids is back from compassionate leave following the passing of his father - Morgan Piek

“We plan to be top of the log after this round. With how the results have gone in this competition, and with only three games left after this weekend, you cannot afford to slip up,” said Bergh.

“We can be first after this round, or we can even be fourth or lower, depending on how results go.

“If they beat us, they’re well ahead of us, and then we’ll need other results to finish on top where we want to finish. So yes, it’s a big game. It’s a very important game for us.

“We know it’s in our hands. Two weeks ago, we were lying second last, now we’re lying second, and we can go first this weekend. That’s how quickly things can change in a short competition with only seven games, where any team can beat another on the day.

“They’re an in-form team. They were unlucky to lose to the Cheetahs in round one – that game could have gone either way. They played really well against a good Pumas team and then they smashed the Bulls. They’re obviously full of confidence and they’re going to be a difficult team to play against.”

Bergh added that it is also a significant weekend for the union, saying Griquas occupy an important place in South African rugby history. He believes it would have been incredibly special for the union to have hosted the All Blacks as part of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.

“We’ve had a discussion with the players about the reunion, not trying to make too big a thing of it, but we know there are going to be hundreds of ex-players here. I heard they’re expecting 500 people, which is a hell of a lot.

Gurswin Wehr in the 2025 Currie Cup final against the Lions - Morgan Piek

“Not a lot of guys have played 100 Test matches for South Africa, but Victor Matfield and Willie le Roux have both done it, and they come from Griquas. There’s not a lot of teams that can say that.

“Thirty years ago, New Zealand played against Griquas in Kimberley. We actually showed that clip to the players the other day. I think the final score was 18-all. Thirty years later, with New Zealand touring again, it would have been great if they could come back and play another game in Kimberley against the Currie Cup champions.

“I think that would have been a brilliant game to be a part of.

“With New Zealand touring here, I think SARU missed a trick by not giving the smaller unions an opportunity. Maybe we could have selected a team from the SA Cup, with all the talent that’s in our country, to play against New Zealand on a hard field in Kimberley or even in Bloemfontein.

“I think that would have been a great opportunity for players from the smaller unions. We’re in season, while the URC teams are actually busy with pre-season. I don’t think it’s the best time for them to play New Zealand.

“Hopefully, in a few years when New Zealand come here again, we can look at a game like that.”

Saturday’s Currie Cup clash between the Griquas and Lions at Suzuki Stadium kicks off at 13:00.

Griquas - 15 Stefan Coetzee, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Gurswin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Carl Els, 7 Carel van der Merwe, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg (captain), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Ig Prinsloo, 2 Tiaan Lange, 1 Leon Lyons

Replacements - 16 Janus Venter, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Ntobeko Shezi, 19 Derik Pretorius, 20 Dillon Smith, 21 Jack Hart, 22 Sako Makata, 23 Connor Mahoney

Lions - TBA