The Sharks are riding high under new head coach JP Pietersen. Following a massive Champions Cup win over Saracens and a gritty URC victory against the Bulls, the Durban side has rediscovered its clinical edge.
However, Pietersen remains grounded:
“Two wins mean nothing if you don’t back it up. We want to keep it going and keep making this team better.”
Lions Looking for the Upset
While the Lions have struggled for consistency, they remain one of the most dangerous counter-attacking sides in the competition. The Johannesburg squad will be desperate to spoil the party in Durban and ignite their 2026 campaign with a statement win on the road.
The Matchday Squads
| SHARKS | POSITION | LIONS |
| Aphelele Fassi | 15 | Quan Horn |
| Edwill van der Merwe | 14 | Kelly Mpeku |
| Andre Esterhuizen (C) | 12 | Bronson Mills |
| Jordan Hendrikse | 10 | Chris Smith |
| Grant Williams | 9 | Morne van den Berg |
| Siya Kolisi | 6 | Jarod Cairns |
| Bongi Mbonambi | 2 | PJ Botha |
| Ox Nche | 1 | Eddie Davids |
Referee: Chris Allison
Assistant Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron, Hanru van Rooyen
TMO: Egon Seconds
