The Carling Currie Cup season has reached the halfway mark and the NNC Pumas find themselves fifth on the log.

They have been hampered by injuries and the character of the team and support staff will be tested in the second round of the competition.

The top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals after the round-robin stage. Only nine points separate the top five teams.

The Cell C Sharks are first on 24, the Vodacom Blue Bulls second on 23 and the Tafel Lager Griquas third on 19. DHL

Western Province are fourth on 17 points and the NNC Pumas fifth on 15. The Toyota Cheetahs and the Sigma Lions are on 10 points each.

All the teams are still in contention for knock-out places.

Despite having won two of five matches (the match versus the Sharks was cancelled and each team was awarded four log points), the Pumas have scored equal second-most tries in the competition.

The Mpumalanga lads have run in 15 tries in five matches, as have the Griquas. Western Province have scored the most tries – 23.

The Pumas also boast the second best defensive stat.

They have conceded 12 tries. Only the Sharks (eight) have conceded fewer.

Pumas fly half Eddie Fouché is the third-highest points scorer with 51. George Whitehead, fly half for the Griquas, has scored 65 points and Western Province fly half Tim Swiel 54.

Kimberly speedster Eduan Keyter and Western Province hooker JJ Kotze lead the try-scoring list with six each.

Second on the stats list are the Pumas’ own Simon Westraadt and Province loosie Evan Roos. They have each scored four tries.

The NCC Pumas travel to Johannesburg to take on the Sigma Lions tomorrow.

The Pumas beat the Lions 39-10 in the opening match of the 2021 Currie Cup.

Kick-off is at 16:45.