The business end of the 2023 Carling Currie Cup has arrived and the Airlink Pumas are not assured of a semi-final place.

With the Cell C Sharks already securing a semi-final, six of the remaining seven teams in the competition are still in with a chance for the three remaining play-off spots. The pressure is on.

The Pumas’ destiny is in their own hands. Two wins will secure the defending champions a semi-final. A win and a loss will leave their destiny in the hands of other results, and two defeats will put an end to their Currie Cup campaign.

The Cell C Sharks top the log on 43 points.

The Toyota Cheetahs are second on 41 points and the Airlink Pumas third on 36.

DHL Western Province and fourth, the Fidelity ADT Lions fifth and the Vodacom Bulls sixth, all on 31 points.

The Windhoek Draught Griquas are seventh on 30 points.

Only the NovaVit Griffons, on nine points, are out of the running for a play-off spot.

The Pumas face two massive matches; against the Cheetahs at Mbombela Stadium tomorrow, June 3, at 17:00, and the Griquas at Windhoek Lager Park on Friday June 9.

But the Pumas thoughts will be far from the stadium in Kimberley, the toughest away venue for other Currie Cup teams, and where they won the final last season. The focus is on the Cheetahs on Saturday night.

A victory is a must, not only for a play-off spot, but a possible home semi.

The Pumas thrashed the Cheetahs 61-21 on March 31 in Bloemfontein. But the Free Staters are a much improved side as their second place on the log attests.

After three consecutive defeats the Airlink Pumas need to stand up and be counted.

Western Province won the inaugural Currie Cup in 1984. The trophy was not played for in 1885, and Province succeeded in ‘defending’ the title in 1886. But, never in the history of the Currie Cup has a team won it for the first time and gone on to retain the cup the following season.

The biggest crowd of the season is expected at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday. Fans are encouraged to buy their tickets early at the stadium ticket office or any Computicket branch, and also arrive at the venue well before kick-off at 17:00.

Tinus de Beer is the 2023 Carling Currie Cup’s top points scorer with 94; one try, 22 conversions, 14 penalty goals and one drop goal.

Airlink Pumas:

1. Cameron Dawson
2. Corné Fourie
3. Simon Raw
4. Deon Slabbert
5. Shane Kirkwood (c)
6. André Fouché
7. Francois Kleinhans
8. Kwanda Dimaza
9. Giovan Snyman
10. Tinus de Beer
11. Etienne Taljaard
12. Wian van Niekerk
13. Diego Appollis
14. Andrew Kota
15. Devon Williams

16. PJ Jacobs
17. Dewald Maritz
18. Etienne Janeke
19. Malembe Mpofu
20. Ruwald van der Merwe
21. Chriswill September
22. Gené Willemse
23. Jaco Labuschagne

Toyota Cheetahs:

1. Schalk Ferreira
2. Marnus van der Merwe
3. Conraad van Vuuren
4. Reynier Bernardo
5. Victor Sekekete (c)
6. Gideon van der Merwe
7. Sibabalo Qoma
8. Friedle Olivier
9. Rewan Kruger
10. Ruan Pienaar
11. Cohen Jasper
12. Reinhardt Fortuin
13. David Brits
14. Daniel Kasende
15. Tapiwa Mafura

16. Marko Janse van Rensburg
17. Alulutho Tshakweni
18. Hencus van Wyk
19. Jeandré Rudolph
20. George Cronjé
21. Daniel Maartens
22. Evardi Boshoff
23. Robert Ebersohn

Referee: Morné Ferreira.