The Blue Bulls will head to Kimberley, where they will face the Griquas in a Carling Currie Cup clash, with a loaded team.

The two sides will meet at Tafel Lager Park at 14:30 on Saturday where both sides will be looking to claim bragging rights after weeks of no action in the domestic competition.

Tafel Lager Griquas beat Western Province 22-20 in their last outing at home on February 18, while the Blue Bulls went down 25-38 to the Cheetahs on February 2 – their last bit of action in the Carling Currie Cup.

The Blue Bulls have selected a strong side for the encounter which is expected to be a thrilling battle between the two sides.

The Tshwane-based side will see a number of players who featured in last weekend’s United Rugby Championship win over Zebre Parma, in Italy, turning out on Saturday.

Captain, Marcell Coetzee, will spearhead the star-studded team which includes, among others, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cornal Hendricks, Chris Smith and Embrose Papier in the backline.

In the forwards pack, alongside Coetzee, will be Arno Botha, Walt Steenkamp, Bismarck du Plessis and Simphiwe Matanzima.

“The Tafel Lager Griquas have shown some good form so far this season and everybody knows how tough of an opponent they always are on the domestic scene. We, therefore, expect an exceptionally tough match against them, especially at their home ground,” said Blue Bulls Carling Currie Cup head coach, Gert Smal, ahead of the game.

Smal emphasized that his team will have to be at their best if they want to claim a good result.

“We have a good blend of experience and exciting youth in our squad, and we hope that our preparations over the past few weeks will come together this weekend,” the coach concluded.

The Blue Bulls team to face Griquas is: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Betway Centurion), Canan Moodie (Pretoria), Stedman Gans (Northam Rhinos), Cornal Hendricks (Northam Rhinos), Richard Kriel (Tuine), Chris Smith (Harlequins), Embrose Papier (UP Tuks); Muller Uys (UP Tuks), Arno Botha (ABE Midas Naka Bulle), Marcell Coetzee (CAPT, ABE Midas Naka Bulle), Janko Swanepoel (Pretoria), Walt Steenkamp (Tuine), Robert Hunt (Harlequins), Bismarck du Plessis (Betway Centurion), Simphiwe Matanzima (ABE Midas Naka Bulle). Replacements:  Schalk Erasmus (Tuine), Lizo Gqoboka (ABE Midas Naka Bulle), Kowie Roos (Pretoria), Reinhardt Ludwig (UP Tuks), WJ Steenkamp (Tuine), Keagan Johannes (UP Tuks), Juan Mostert (Harlequins), Lionel Mapoe (Pretoria).

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