Champions Gardens will be gunning to extend their winning streak to five matches when they face Brumbies in a Score EPRU Top 12 Grand Challenge club rugby clash in Makhanda on Saturday.
The Kariega side are in red-hot form and few would bet against them emerging with maximum points against a Brumbies outfit who have blown hot and cold.
After narrowly losing 29-20 to Trying Stars on the opening day of the season, Brumbies bounced back with an impressive 33-20 win against Harlequins in round two.
However, the Makhanda outfit then slumped to a 33-3 loss against Progress before going down 50-36 to Joubertina United last week.
Back on home soil on Saturday, Brumbies will be determined to pull off an upset win over the champions at the Albany Sport Grounds.
After being awarded a 28-0 walkover win over the Madibaz on the opening day of the season, Gardens have gone about their business in a methodical manner.
They chalked up narrow wins over Hankey Villagers and Trying Stars before thrashing Central 40-3 last week.
Gardens, who delighted fans with their attacking brand of rugby in 2023, have the depth in talent to make it a double if they can last the pace in what promises to be a gruelling campaign.
Apart from a double round of Grand Challenge matches, Gardens will also represent EP at the national Gold Cup tournament which kicks off later in the season.
Gardens coach Leon Nicolaai said: “The club are determined to do our very best in 2024.
“I do not think Gardens will have a tag on our backs because we are defending Grand Challenge champions.
“All the teams are good and ready and it looks like it will be an open season.”
At this early stage of the competition, the only other team boasting an unbeaten record are Kruisfontein United.
They have swept all before them and were unstoppable form when they trounced Hankey Villagers 40-10 at the Sports Complex in Humansdorp last week.
Kruisfontein coach Frank Domingo says he is enjoying the strength vs strength concept of the newly adopted Top 12 Grand Challenge format.
“It is the only way that you can actually measure your strength in the competition because week after week you competing with the best in the province,” he said.
“So you need to work hard on and off the field.
“Good planning and thorough preparation and also player management is essential.”
Harlequins will be looking for consistency when they face the NMU Madibaz in what is expected to be a tight tussle at the Adcock Stadium.
Victory for Harlequins will keep the pressure on Kruisfontein and Gardens at the top of the table and enhance their prospects of a semifinal berth.
Harlequins showed admirable fighting spirit when they were reduced to 13 men after two of their players were red-carded against Park last week.
Despite being at a serious disadvantage, Harlequins managed to hold out to record a 21-17 win at Londt Park.
After losing to Park 29-18 in round three, the Madibaz got their campaign back on track when edged a strong Trying Stars side 27-21 at the campus last week.
Former champions Progress, who earned vital points on the road when they beat Despatch Oostelikes 37-21 at Daleview last week, host Park in Kariega on Saturday.
In another Top 12 clash Oostelikes travel to Graaff-Reinet to face a Central side who are licking their wounds after a heavy defeat against Kruisfontein last week.
Saturday's fixtures (all 3.30pm kickoff):
Top 12: Central v Despatch Oostelikes, Progress v Park, Harlequins v NMU Madibaz, Trying Stars v Hankey Villagers, Joubertina United v Kruisfontein United, Brumbies v Gardens.
Middle 12: Despatch v Born Fighters, Kirkwood v Evergreens, Kwaru v United Barbarians, Suburban v Star of Hope, Missionvale v Jeffreys Bay, Spring Rose v Motherwell.
Bottom 12: Police/Crusaders v St Mark's (Alicedale), Excelsior v Adelaide Rangers, Easterns (Gqeberha) v Lily White, African Bombers v Orlando Eagles, Kareedouw Tigers v Windvogel, St Mark's (Gqeberha) v Aberdeen.
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