'Final trial' for Maties against WP

FNB Maties coach Chean Roux will be using tomorrow's friendly against a Western Province Invitation XV as a 'final trial' for his squad ahead of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

With the Varsity Cup getting underway in less than two weeks' time, Roux will be taking a 32-man outfit to Newlands to do battle with some of WP's finest - all of which will help his final selection process ahead of the Maties' opening game against NMMU on February 1.

"I guess you could say it's a final trial," Roux told varsitycup.co.za on Friday.

"The big thing is that some of the Stormers/WP players [who played against UCT last week] have dropped down into our group, whilst we could get a few more (back) next week - that's the tricky part right now and that's what I need to keep my eye on this weekend."

One player that will not be in action on Saturday, however, is Maties' new Varsity Cup skipper, loose forward Cameron Peverett (pictured).

The Maties coach revealed: "Cameron has a slight rib niggle and he could even be touch and go for our opening game. We will check it next week."

The worries about his captain aside, Roux - who, of course, will be gunning for a third successive Varsity Cup title - is already counting the days until the start of Varsity Cup, Chapter Three.

"Every year, at this stage of the season, you have that same feeling... not everything feels 100% at training and you're not sure exactly where you stand - then, suddenly, the season starts and you get into a rhythm... that's what I'm waiting for," he said.

"We need that rhythm and week-to-week planning, but - like I said - Saturday will give us a better indication of where we stand."

The Maties v WP Invitation XV match kicks-off at 2.45pm and will serve as the curtain-raiser to the Stormers-Western Force Neo Africa Tri-Series clash at Newlands.

Gates open at 2.30pm and tickets are R50 (for standing and reserved seats on the Danie Craven Stand) and R10 (for the Scholars Enclosure).

Tickets are on sale at Computicket, at Shoprite/Checkers outlets nationwide and at the Newlands Box Offices. (Please note, season tickets are NOT valid for this match.)

The WP Invitation XV: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Fabian Juries, 13 Frikkie Welsh (captain), 12 Paul Bosch, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Conrad Hoffmann, 9 Bolla Conradie, 8 Yaya Hartzenberg, 7 Pieter Louw (vice-captain), 6 Conraad Britz, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Eusebio Guinazu, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JD Möller.
Replacements - from: 16 Sydney Tobias, 17 Hein van de Merwe, 18 Stephan Greeff, 19 Dustin Jinka, 20 Hilton Lobberts, 21 Liam Slatem, 22 Jody Birch, 23 Stokkies Hanekom, 24 Tim Whitehead, 25 Denzil Riddles.