'Helderberg first; then Intervarsity'

Having lost two WP Super League fixtures in the past ten days, FNB Maties coach Chean Roux is hoping to arrest his team's mini-slump ahead of this weekend's Intervarsity clash against FNB UCT.

Before Roux can even consider Saturday's clash against the Ikey Tigers in Cape Town, the three times Varsity Cup champions will play host to Helderberg at the Danie Craven Stadium on Wednesday evening (kick-off 9pm) - a must-win fixture for the home side.

"We've had a tough few weeks since the Varsity Cup Final," lamented Roux in conversation with varsitycup.co.za.

"I'm not one for making excuses, but this will be our eighth (Super League) game since March 29 - that's quite a schedule."

The Maties, after five wins on the trot in the 2010 WP Super League, have since suffered defeats at the hands of Hamilton's (34-44) and False Bay (18-19) on successive Saturdays - with a midweek win over SK Walmers 'sandwiched' in between.

Tomorrow's meeting with Helderberg - the only side to have denied UCT a victory this season, when the two teams played to an opening-night draw last month - is therefore a crucial one for the Men in Maroon in a bid to qualify for the National Club Championships.

"All I'm trying to do at this stage is field a starting team strong enough to take on - and beat - Helderberg," admitted Roux, "then I'll start worrying about UCT come Thursday."

Roux (pictured, above, with backline coach Sollie Goosen) was at a loss to explain just why his team had 'dropped' two games in their last three starts, but he found some comfort in the fact that he has "been there before".

"I lost my first four games in charge of the Maties when I took over five years ago," remembered the former WP and Stormers No.8. "We then drew (the fifth match) to Tukkies, which meant I had to wait until my sixth game in charge for my first win!

"I'd like to think that things have gone a bit better since then," added Roux, "but I'm not worried about winning records or successive losses - it's about winning on Wednesday and then shifting our attention to a tough game against UCT on Saturday - a game that we'll be up for... regardless."

* Meanwhile, Stellenbosch's second side, Steinhoff Victorians, will also be in action in the 2010 WP Super League on Wednesday night. Vics will travel to Durb-Bell (kick-off 9pm).

The WP Super League log (at a glance):
(Under played, won, points)
1. Maties 7, 5, 27
2. False Bay 5, 4, 19
3. UCT 4, 3, 16
4. SK Walmers 5, 3, 15
5. Durb-Bell 4, 3, 14
6. Victorians 6, 2, 10
7. Hamilton's 4, 1, 7
8. Villager's 4, 1, 6
9. Helderberg 3, 0, 5
10. NNK 4, 0, 0