While most clubs enjoy a break between the first and second rounds of the Score Energy Drink EPRU Grand Challenge Top 12, on Saturday it will be business as usual for Harlequins and Gardens.
This crunch match was moved forward to accommodate champions Gardens and free them up for participation in the national Gold Cup club championships competition later in the season.
Gardens qualified to fly EP's flag at the national event when they beat Kruisfontein United in the 2023 Grand Challenge final at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
In a first-round meeting between the sides, Harlequins pipped Gardens 25-24 at the Derrick Ferreira Stadium in June.
The outcome of that clash hung in the balance until the final whistle and another tight contest is expected at the Adcock Stadium.
This is a key top-of-the-table clash and Gardens can move into second spot on the log if they win.
Gardens are fourth on the log with 31 points compared to Harlequins' haul of 33 after the completion of the first round.
Gardens will have to pick themselves after a narrow 29-27 loss against log-leading Kruisfontein at the Sports Complex in their last outing.
Harlequins, on the other hand, pipped Trying Stars 26-29 at the Adcock Stadium last week.
The only other Grand Challenge clash scheduled for Saturday is an outstanding fixture between Despatch Oostelikes and the NMU Madibaz at the Daleview Sports Field.
The league will have a partial break on Saturday, before a full round of fixtures are played in round 13 on July 20.
Last week Kruisfontein United struck a decisive psychological blow when they edged Gardens in Humansdorp.
The win left Kruisfontein sitting pretty at the top of the log with an impressive haul of 48 points from 11 matches.
Second-placed Progress kept up the pressure on the log leaders when they stormed to an emphatic 45-14 win over bottom-of-the-log Hankey Villagers at the Central Field in Kariega.
Progress's next assignment is a blockbuster clash against Kruisfontein in Humansdorp on July 20.
That result left Progress eight points behind Kruisfontein, though they have a game in over the Humansdorp side.
Saturday's fixtures:
Top 12: Harlequins v Gardens (brought forward to free up gardens for national Gold Cup fixtures later in the season.
Outstanding fixtures to be played on Saturday:
Top 12: Despatch Oostelikes v NMU Madibaz.
Middle 12: Missionvale v Born Fighters, Spring Rose v Evergreens.
Bottom 12: St Marks (Gqeberha) v Adelaide Rangers, Aberdeen v Easterns.
Logs (with matches in played):
Top 12: Kruisfontein United 48 (11), Progress 36 (10), Harlequins 33 (11), Gardens 31 (11), Trying Stars 29 (10), Park 29 (11), Brumbies 28 (11), Joubertina 22 (10), Central 20 (10), NMU Madibaz 19 (8), Despatch Oostelikes 13 (10), Hankey Villagers 12 (11).
Middle 12: Star of Hope 35 (9), Motherwell 33 (11), Despatch 33 (11), United Barbarians 32 (9), Jeffreys Bay 31 (11), Kirkwood 29 (11), Kwaru 27 (11), Evergreens 23 (9), Suburban 19 (11), Missionvale 16 (9), Spring Rose 14 (9), Born Fighters 9 (9).
Bottom 12: Police/Crusaders 41 (11), Kareedouw Tigers 32 (11), African Bombers 28 (11), Lily White 28 (10), Windvogel 28 (11), Easterns 26 (9), Adelaide Rangers 23 (9), Orlando Eagles 23 (11), Aberdeen 20 (9), Excelsior 20 (11), St Marks (Alicedale 16 (11), St Marks (Gqeberha) 11 (10).
HeraldLIVE
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