Cheetahs out to starve the Sharks

The Cheetahs will focus on protecting their possession on Saturday in order to beat a Sharks team that have proven to be especially dangerous on the counter-attack this season.

Captain Adriaan Strauss explained that the key for his team this weekend will be to look after the ball carefully in contact and thereby limit the attacking opportunities of the Durban side when the teams meet in Bloemfontein.

"One thing we've certainly worked on this week was not giving the Sharks any turnovers," Strauss said.

"They're very dangerous when they get possession there and have good playmakers like Marcell Coetzee and Keegan Daniel who love to attack from around the breakdown. We will want to keep our possession as much as possible. That will be key," he explained.

Both teams have been frustratingly inconsistent this season and will look to build on their respective victories last weekend to gain some momentum late in the season, so Sharks coach John Plumtree is expecting a battle of attrition in the derby clash.

"The effort from both teams goes up a few levels, there's no doubt about that," Plumtree said.

Plumtree said that after two consecutive victories at home and with a few key players back from injury the Sharks are keen to cash in on their new-found confidence.

"Our side looks fit, the guys coming back from injury are fit and that will help, especially when playing at altitude," he said.

"But a big part of the challenge is also mental. We need to be in a good space mentally and physically and go up there believing in ourselves," added the Sharks coach.