Pietersen wants to hit his straps
Sharks wing JP Pietersen is anxious to get back to full match-fitness as soon as possible with the knock-out phase of the Currie Cup approaching.
The Bok flyer was in sublime form this year until he broke his thumb in the Super Rugby Final, and having made his comeback against the Cheetahs last week he is desperate to ensure that he is at the peak of his powers by the time the Currie Cup semifinals arrive.
Pietersen belives that the match against Griquas at Kings Park on Friday night will be crucial to his goal of being as sharp as possible in the play-offs.
He explained: "I am excited about playing this weekend, to build on my performance last weekend and just improve. It's a case of getting match fit with these important games coming up and there is a lot of excitement about where we are.
"I am feeling good, the body is good and it was nice to have a run last week against Free State. I have a couple of stitches in my hand which will come out probably tomorrow (Wednesday)," he added.
Pietersen said that although his team have already secured a home semifinal, they are determined to remain focused on the threat that Griquas will pose this weekend.
"We have a home semi and if we win this Friday, anything can happen from there. But we won't get ahead of ourselves, we'll just have to focus on Friday, try to get the result, then focus on the semifinal next weekend.
"Griquas are a very strong team, they have a very good forward pack and good backs so it will be a big test for us, it won't be easy. There will be good battles in both the forwards and backs," he said.
With all of the Springboks back in the mix this weekend the Sharks should field a very strong team, but Pietersen was qucik to pay tribute to the players that have got them into such a position of strength at the end of the season.
"That's the nature of the Currie Cup, where it gives youngsters an opportunity to step up and ours have performed well. They've earned experience and they've done really well to get us where we are, top of the log with a guaranteed home semifinal," he said.