AS THE race for Carling Currie Cup Premier Division qualification heats up, all eyes will be on the Free State this weekend, where the Toyota Cheetahs and NovaVit Griffons will lock horns in a high-stakes derby in Round 5 of the SA Cup.

Defending champions the Suzuki Griquas and 2024 finalists Airlink Pumas currently dominate the standings, both sitting comfortably on 20 points after four straight wins. However, the battle for the remaining top-four spots is intensifying. The Griffons (third, 16 points), Sanlam Boland Kavaliers (fourth, 13 points), Toyota Cheetahs (fifth, 12 points), and Valke (sixth, 11 points) are all in contention, making this weekend's fixtures crucial for their semi-final aspirations.

Weekend Fixtures Overview

The action kicks off on Friday when the Phangela SWD Eagles welcome the Valke to Outeniqua Park in George at 3.30pm. The Eagles, who suffered a heavy defeat against the Pumas last weekend, will be desperate for redemption. Meanwhile, the Valke, sitting just outside the top four, will view this as an opportunity to move up the ladder.

Later on Friday evening, the Pumas are expected to have little trouble when they host the last-placed Border Bulldogs at 7pm in Nelspruit. Both Friday fixtures will be streamed live on SuperSport.

Saturday Showdowns

The defending champions Griquas will host the Boland Kavaliers in Kimberley at 2pm in what promises to be an enthralling contest. The men from Kimberley have amassed a staggering 304 points while conceding just 58, making them the most dominant team in the competition so far. Boland faces an uphill battle against a team that remains unbeaten at home since the competition began.

The focus then shifts to Bloemfontein for the highly anticipated Free State derby. The Griffons, enjoying a strong campaign, sit four points above the Cheetahs on the log. Last year, the Griffons edged out the Cheetahs by just three points in Welkom. However, playing in Bloemfontein under the guidance of former Springbok Frans Steyn might provide the Cheetahs with the boost they need to turn the tide in this fierce rivalry.

Meanwhile, in Gqeberha, Eastern Province will be eyeing their second win of the season when they take on the Leopards at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium at 3pm. Despite only one victory so far, EP has been competitive in all their matches and will back themselves against a Leopards side that has managed only 45 points in four games.

With just four regular league games remaining before the semi-finals on May 17, every match carries significant weight. Will the top contenders maintain their dominance, or will this weekend see major shifts in the standings?

Rugby fans can expect a thrilling round of action in the SA Cup.