It will be a do-or-die battle for Harlequins when they face Progress in a Score Energy Drink EPRU Grand Challenge Top 12 club rugby clash on Saturday.
Matches between these sides are usually hard fought encounters and Saturday’s eagerly anticipated clash at the Adcock Stadium is expected to go down to the wire.
In a first round meeting between the sides at the Central Field in Kariega in June, Park emerged narrow 19-18 winners and Harlequins are keen to avenge that defeat.
Last week, Harlequins were pipped 28-27 by log-leaders Kruisfontein United in a match that kept fans at the Adcock Stadium on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
Stung by that defeat, Harlequins will come out with all guns firing against second-placed Progress who are in a rich vein of form.
The rampant Kariega side chalked up an eighth consecutive win when they beat Trying Stars 31-20 in Kariega last week.
With the wind at their backs, Progress will travel to Gqeberha with their confidence sky high ahead of the semifinals.
Fourth-placed Harlequins know defeat against Progress could see them slip out of the top four if Trying Stars win their match against Central in Alexandria.
After tasting defeat in Kariega, Trying Stars will be favourites to earn maximum points when they host a struggling Central side in Alexandria.
With Progress hot on their heels in second place, Kruisfontein will be gunning for maximum points against lowly Despatch Oostelikes at the Sports Complex in Humansdorp.
With seven matches in the league phase remaining, Kruisfrontein are favoured to top the log and secure a home semifinal at the Sports Complex.
Kruisfontein, who have won 13 of their opening 15 outings, are expected to have too much firepower for an Oostelikes side who were beaten 32-20 by Gardens last week.
After slumping to a sixth consecutive defeat when they were beaten 22-8 by Joubertina United last week, Park face a make-or-break clash against champions Gardens at the Derrick Ferreira Stadium in Kariega.
Defeats against Harlequins, the NMU Madibaz, Kruisfontein, Brumbies, Progress and Joubertina have left Park facing the unwanted prospect of facing a relegation battle.
A well-drilled Gardens side made it six wins on the spin when they beat Oostelikes 32-20 in Kariega last week.
The win kept Gardens in the top four and well set to clinch a semifinal berth.
Park will draw some inspiration from their first round meeting with Gardens when they emerged 31-25 winners at Londt Park.
The Madibaz are expected to continue climbing up the league table when they host Joubertina United at the campus.
Brumbies can keep their hopes of sneaking into the semifinals alive if they beat bottom-of-the-log Hankey Villagers.
Saturday’s fixtures:
Top 12: Kruisfontein United v Despatch Oostelikes, Gardens v Park, NMU Madibaz v Joubertina, Hankey Villagers v Brumbies, Trying Stars v Central, Harlequins v Progress.
Middle 12: Jeffreys Bay v Born Fighters, Evergreens v Motherwell, United Barbarians v Missionvale, Star of Hope v Spring Rose, Suburban v Despatch, Kwaru v Kirkwood.
Bottom 12: Windvogel v St Marks (Alicedale), Adelaide Rangers v Aberdeen, Lily White v Kareedouw Tigers, Orlando Eagles v St Marks (Gqeberha), African Bombers v Police/Crusaders, Easterns v Excelsior.
Logs (matches played in brackets):
Top 12: Kruisfontein 67 (15), Progress 65 (16), Gardens 59 (17), Harlequins 47 (17), Trying Stars 44 (17), NMU Madibaz 44 (16), Joubertina 37 (16), Brumbies 34 (17), Park 32 (16), Central 30 (16), Despatch Oostelikes 28 (16), Hankey Villagers 19 (16).
Middle 12: Jeffreys Bay 54 (17), United Barbarians 54 (15), Star of Hope 52 (15), Kirkwood 50 (17), Motherwell 42 (16), Evergreens 40 (17), Spring Rose 36 (15), Despatch 35 (16), Kwaru 31 (16), Missionvale 30 (15), Born Fighters 30 (17), Suburban 29 (16).
Bottom 12: Kareedouw Tigers 52 (16), Police/Crusaders 46 (16), African Bombers 45 (16), Aberdeen 44 (17), Orlando Eagles 42 (17), Windvogel 41 (16), St Marks (Alicedale) 38 (17), Lilywhite 37 (16), Easterns 34 (14), Excelsior 34 (16), Adelaide Rangers 31 (15), St Marks (Gqeberha) 22 (16).
HeraldLIVE
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