The Peacock Blues will travel to the Lowveld to face the reigning SA Cup champions without two of their key players, with captain Albert Liebenberg and fellow lock Malembe Mpofu both ruled out through injury. With Friday’s fixture being the penultimate game of the Currie Cup league stage, a bonus-point victory would secure the Northern Cape side a home semi-final. 

However, heading into such a crucial encounter without two of their in-form players is a major setback.

Albert Liebenberg. Photo: Morgan Piek

Derik Pretorius and Lungi Mbiko will form the second-row partnership this week, while Lourens Oosthuizen returns to the starting XV on the side of the scrum.

With Liebenberg sidelined, powerful centre Mbombo Zwelendaba has been handed the captaincy for at least this week as the Griquas look to keep their title defence firmly on track.

Griquas coach Pieter Bergh told OFM Sport that losing both locks is a blow, with Liebenberg’s injury prognosis looking considerably more positive than Mpofu’s.

“Albert and Malembe, they both missed out because of injury,” Bergh confirmed. Albert is hopefully just a week, while Malembe will be out for a bit longer. 

“We’re not quite sure yet, but he’ll probably be out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. Albert just injured a rib against the Sharks. He’ll hopefully be available again next week.”

Despite the setbacks, Bergh has full confidence in Pretorius and Mbiko to step up when the pressure is on.

Mnombo Zwelendaba will captain the Griquas on Friday. Photo: Morgan Piek

“When Lungi Mbiko got his opportunity in the Toyota Challenge, he really used it,” Bergh added.

“Then he played two matches in the Currie Cup while Malembe was injured and he won the forward player of the match. He was unlucky because he really played well, but Malembe was back from injury and was always our starting number four.

“The same with Derik. After his suspension, he’s really come back. He’s improved our lineout work and our lineout contesting. He’s done really well since he’s come back.”

Derik Pretorius and Willie Engelbrecht exchanging phone numbers in a heated moment. Photo: Morgan Piek

Bergh stressed that Friday’s encounter is massive for the Griquas, with the margin for error becoming increasingly small as the league stage reaches its business end.

The Griquas know a victory would put them within touching distance of a home semi-final, while a defeat could leave their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.

“We want to win the Currie Cup and, to win the Currie Cup, you need to give yourself the best chance to finish as high as possible and hopefully get playoff matches at home,” said Bergh.

Vlam Oosthuizen after sustaining a cut to his head in the SA Cup final against the Pumas. Photo: Morgan Piek

“We know that if we lose this game, it is going to be difficult to get a home semi-final. We also know that if we win this game, there’s a very likely chance of us getting a home semi-final.

“It’s a big game.

“They still feel that they can finish on top of the log, and we know we can finish at the top, but we know we can also drop out of the semi-final spot. So, it’s massively important for us this week.”

The Pumas and Griquas will go head-to-head at the Mbombela Stadium on Friday, with kick-off at 15:00.

Pumas – TBA

Griquas - 15 Stefan Coetzee, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba (captain), 11 Gurswin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Lungisa Mbiko, 3 Ig Prinsloo, 2 Tiaan Lange, 1 Leon Lyons

Replacements - 16 Janus Venter, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Ntobeko Shezi, 19 Carel van der Merwe, 20 Dillon Smith, 21 Jack Hart, 22 Liam Koen, 23 Saku Makata

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh