The DHL Western Province Under-21 team will head to Bloemfontein this weekend with one goal in mind – to secure a tenth win of the season and, in the process, secure a top-of-the-log finish in the 2014 Absa Provincial competition.

The DHL WP Under-21s are currently on 44 log points from ten matches, seven points ahead of the second-placed Lions U21s (who are away to the Leopards this weekend), meaning that a Province win over the FS Cheetahs, on Saturday at 11h40, will book a first-place finish for the team in Blue & White hoops with a game in hand.

“If we win this one then we are assured of a top-of-the-log finish with a game to spare,” DHL Western Province Under-21 coach John Dobson confirmed.

“We have targeted this game as a must-win in that we really, really, both for our own pride and because of semifinal permutations, want to finish top of the log,” he told www.wprugby.com.

The DHL WP U21s were at their destructive best last weekend as they recorded a convincing 64-21 win over the Leopards U21s in Potchefstroom.

However, in the process they suffered two more injuries, to hooker Mike Willemse (toe) and prop Sti Sithole (elbow), whilst lock/flank Jurie van Vuuren was this week called up to the senior Province side.

“The fact that we have an entire first-choice pack unavailable for selection makes it challenging against a team as skilled, adventurous and resilient as this (Free State) team,” said Dobson.

“Obviously the injuries that we, and the seniors, sustained last week have affected us – with Sti Sithole being ruled out for the rest of the season with an elbow injury and Jurie van Vuuren going up.

“Mike Willemse’s toe injury and Sikhumbuzo Notshe’s selection for the senior Absa Currie Cup team means that we have (now) lost all the forwards we had with Vodacom Super Rugby experience.”

Despite the newest injury disruptions up front, coach Dobson has made just four changes to his team this week: Justin Benn shifts to No.8, Luke van der Smit will make his first start of 2014 (at No.7), Michael Kennedy comes in at hooker and John Meyer will start at loosehead prop.

On the bench, meanwhile, Wesley Adonis will provide prop cover, whilst WP Sevens speedster Iewan Bartels joins the team in what could be his first taste of Under-21 action this season.

“Luckily we have worked on our depth all season. We never quite envisaged the massive bad run at lock that we have had, but we were pleased with the impressive, albeit a bit rusty, performances of the two locks we got from the club system (last week),” said Dobson.

“The backline which was so good last week is unchanged but obviously we have had to make the necessary adjustments up front with Carel du Preez, who has been so good at No.8, moving forward to bail us out a bit at lock, which means last year’s outstanding Under-19 flanker, Luke van der Smit, gets his first start after impressing off the bench.”

The DHL WP Under-21 team for Saturday (v FS Cheetahs, away) is as follows:

15. EW Viljoen
14. Dalen Goliath
13. Johnny Kotze
12. Kyle Lombard
11. JP Lewis
10. Robert du Preez
9. Jean Nel (vice-captain)
8. Justin Benn
7. Luke van der Smit
6. Eital Bredenkamp (captain)
5. Jade Kriel
4. Carel du Preez
3. Deacon Chowles
2. Michael Kennedy
1. John Meyer

Replacements:
16. Chad Solomon
17. Wesley Adonis
18. Kobus van Dyk
19. Tapiwa Tsomondo
20. SP Ferreira
21. WJ Strydom
22. Iewan Bartels

Referee: Rodney Bonaparte