With the semi-finals looming, the defending champions have plenty to play for. The Griquas are targeting top spot on the log, which would strengthen their chances of hosting a potential home final and give them an important advantage heading into the business end of the competition.

The Griquas have made a handful of changes to the side that powered to a convincing 38-14 victory over the Pumas last weekend.

Tiaan Lange against the Cheetahs - Morgan Piek

The most notable change comes in the second row, where captain Albert Liebenberg returns from injury.

Marco de Witt will also mark a significant milestone, earning his 50th cap for the Griquas.

In the backline, Liam Koen gets the nod at flyhalf, taking over the number 10 jersey. The change is partly tactical and partly enforced, with experienced playmaker George Whitehead carrying a slight niggle and named among the replacements.

In-form hooker Tiaan Lange will once again be a key figure for the Griquas. The fiery front-rower is currently joint-top of the Currie Cup try-scoring charts and says there is a real sense of excitement and confidence in the camp ahead of what promises to be a bruising encounter.

Janco Uys makes his return from injury - Morgan Piek

“We’re definitely feeling good going into this game, but we know it’s going to be a massive battle. Boland is going to be highly motivated and they are a quality side, so you can’t take anything for granted. There’s definitely no one thinking that it’s going to be easy or it’s going to be a walkover. We know it’s going to be a massive, monumental battle.

“Everybody has to rock up and give their best. If we rock up at 80% or something like that, we’re going to get taught a lesson. We need to be ready on the day, and that’s what we’ve been working towards.”

Lange says the Griquas have effectively been treating the final stretch of the competition as a series of four finals, with every match carrying enormous weight.

Liam Koen will start at flyhalf ahead of George Whitehead - Morgan Piek

“A big thing Coach Piet’s been talking to us about the last few weeks is that we basically have four finals left, and if you can win these four finals, you will bring the Currie Cup home. Pumas was obviously the first game and it was a must-win for us, and this weekend is nothing else. It’s also a must-win game for us as it is for them, so that’s going to make it a massive battle.”

With the Griquas having already secured a home semi-final, Lange believes they can play with a little more freedom — but only within the framework that has carried them this far.

“It is a massive opportunity for us to express ourselves going into the business end of the comp, but when I say that, I also mean to express ourselves within the system. Not trying anything flashy, not going out and trying to do miracle plays or anything like that, not going away from our DNA.”

Captain Albert Liebenberg also return from an injury - Morgan Piek

For Lange, the formula is simple: win the physical battle first and the opportunities will follow.

“If you do the basics right, then the rest of the stuff will come. Like that saying goes, you’ve got to earn the right to go out wide. So, if we do the hard graft in the middle and we can get in over the advantage line, we can keep them from getting over the advantage line when they have the ball, then those things will come.”

And with plenty of attacking talent around him, Lange is clearly relishing the ride.

“We have some guys on our team that have serious magic in them, so it’s an honour to be playing with these guys. It’s very exciting being a part of this team.”

Lock Marlyn Williams will play in his 100th game for Boland - Morgan Piek

Sunday’s clash between the Boland Cavaliers and Griquas at Boland Stadium in Wellington kicks off at 15:00.

Boland Cavaliers - 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Xavier Mitchell, 13 Lunathi Nxele, 12 Jurick Lewis, 11 Jayden Bantom, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Thurlow Marsh (captain), 7 Sibusiso Sanqweni, 6 Gift Dlamini, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Johnré Stopforth, 3 Herko Pohlmann, 2 Joshua Eras, 1 Mthokozisi Gumede

Replacements - 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Jeandré Leonard, 20 Kwanda Dimaza, 21 Bentley Geldenhuys, 22 Chris Smit, 23 James Tedder

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

Replacements - 16 Janco Uys, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Ntobeko Shezi, 19 Derik Pretorius, 20 Carel van der Merwe, 21 Jack Hart, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Sako Makata

Morgan Piek OFM Sport