The Airlink Pumas will be back at Mbombela Stadium this weekend, in what is set to be a clash of epic proportions, as they take on the Suzuki Griquas in the ongoing battle for SA Cup supremacy.

Both the Pumas and the Griquas have been untouchable throughout the SA Cup season. Six games into the nine-game season, both franchises are level on 30 log points with the Northern Cape outfit edging out the Mpumalanga side thanks to an ever-so-slightly better points difference.

The two teams have bagged bonus point victories in each of the six games they’ve played so far. The Pumas have been the superior try-scorers, scoring 63 tries so far, compared to the Griquas’ 62, and both have conceded an equal amount of tries (15).

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While they have both been prolific points-scorers thus far in the season, the two teams’ strong defensive set-ups will ensure that Friday’s game will be a hard-fought encounter. There’s a lot on the line for each side, too.

Friday’s winning team will take an outright lead at the top of the log, while the loser could leave themselves susceptible to being caught by the Toyota Cheetahs, who currently hold third and are chasing a home semi-final. The Griquas are most at risk, should the Pumas come up trumps at Mbombela Stadium, as their final game of the league phase is against the Cheetahs.

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A draw would be equally beneficial to each side, but that won’t be the aim of the game, as it is truly every man for themselves. Another upside to winning this weekend will be that a home semi-final would be all but confirmed for the victors as it would be extremely difficult for the chasing pack to make up the necessary ground.

Whichever way one looks at it this Friday’s encounter, which kicks off at 19:00, will be hard-fought with everything to play for, so you’d best make your way to Mbombela Stadium to witness what promises to be a fine game of rugby.