Super Rugby Preview Lions v Cheetahs, Johannesburg, At 17:10 GMT, 19:10 local

May 06, 2011

Friday's Super rugby clash between the Lions and Cheetahs should be another bruising South African derby with no quarter asked or given.

Both teams have been struggling in this year's competition but the Cheetahs will be keen to build on their deserved 47-36 win over the Brumbies in Bloemfontein at the weekend.

The Lions have been the whipping boys in this season's tournament and are propping up the points table with 14 points from 10 matches and just a single win so far in the competition.

Significantly though, that victory came in Round Four when they the beat boys from Bloemfontein 25-20 in their own backyard.

Despite their precarious position on the table the Lions have a lot to play for as coach John Mitchell has suggested that signing new players could be the key to success in 2012.

Although there's very little to enthuse about for the Lions this year there have been some players who have impressed.

Amongst the forwards, flanker Josh Strauss has been the standout performer this season and if some of his fellow players can follow his example then the path to victory will be so much easier against the Cheetahs.

Lions captain Doppies le Grange has also been playing well and his performance in the midfield with former Stormers centre Dylan des Fontain will be closely watched.

The Lions centre pairing's battle with the Cheetahs' Corne Uys and Robert Ebersohn will be keenly contested as both duos are dangerous on attack.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has rewarded his charges for their fine win over the Brumbies by selecting the same starting line-up for this weekend's match.

The Cheetahs' star performer so far this season is scrum-half Sarel Pretorius, who is the joint top try-scorer in the competition with eight tries.

Pretorius' sniping runs around the ruck area have proven a handful for several teams so far this season and the Lions will have to keep a watchful eye on him if they want to be successful in this fixture.

Pretorius has impressed with his service to fly-half Sias Ebersohn and the nuggety number nine has also done well in protecting the rookie pivot by taking a lot of the pressure on himself at critical stages in matches

This match will be shown on the Sky Sports 3 in the UK.

Last five results
12 Mar 2011 Lions v Cheetahs 25-20 Bloemfontein
15 May 2010 Lions v Cheetahs 10-59 Welkom
13 Feb 2009 Lions v Cheetahs 34-28 Johannesburg
16 Feb 2008 Lions v Cheetahs 23-22 Bloemfontein
05 May 2007 Lions v Cheetahs 10-16 Johannesburg
Lions overall record against the Cheetahs
Played 6 , Wins 3 , Losses 3, Draws 0
Match Officials
Referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Sindile Mayende (South Africa), Stefan Breytenbach (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)

Teams

Lions :Michael Killian, Lionel Mapoe, Dylan des Fontain, Doppies La Grange (capt), Deon van Rensburg, Burton Francis, Rory Kockott, Warren Whiteley, Josh Strauss, Cobus Grobbelaar, David de Villiers, Wikus van Heerden, Kevin Buys, Edgar Marutlulle, JC Janse van Rensburg.

Replacements: Martin Bezuidenhout, Patic Cilliers, Franco van der Merwe, Michael Rhodes, Jano Vermaak, Elton Jantjies, Jaco Taute

Cheetahs: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Philip Burger, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Corne Uys, 11 Riaan Smit, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (capt), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.

Substitutes: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Lourens Adriaanse, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Naas Olivier, 22 Hennie Daniller.