The DHL Western Province Under-19s will travel to Bloemfontein this weekend with a play-off mentality, according to coach Nazeem Adams.

The DHL WP U19s are in second place on the 2014 Absa Provincial Under-19 log at present – six points ahead of the third-placed Free State Cheetahs, their hosts on Saturday morning (kick-off 10h00).

As things stand now, a win on Saturday would see the WP U19s sew up – at worst – a second place finish and with it a home semifinal. Should they lose to the Free Staters they will probably finish third on the log, meaning an away semifinal, but, either way, it does seem likely that they will meet the selfsame Cheetahs side come the Last Four.

Coach Adams told www.wprugby.com: “It’s almost like play-off rugby now, we need to have that play-off mentality in these last two games ahead of the semifinals.

“We would obviously like to book a home semifinal, which a win over Free State would secure (for us), but, either way – whether we finish second or third, we could end up playing against the Cheetahs so we would certainly like to fire the first shot with that game in mind.”

The DHL WP U19s have been ravaged by injuries in recent weeks, which currently sees them without key men (on long-term injuries) Daniel du Plessis, Floris Pelser, Rikus Bothma and Dan du Plessis.

This week, however, is a bit better in terms of injuries, although star wing/fullback Grant Hermanus misses out due to school commitments.

“Grant, as you know, is still at school (at Paarl Gym) and we have always said that his commitments there would take precedent over any rugby (commitments),” explained Adams.

“Joel Booysen has been part of our set-up this year and he gets a deserved first start (in his place),” he added.

In all, there are just three changes to the DHL WP U19 starting XV that will run out at the Free State Stadium, with Booysen, lock Johan Momsen and loosehead prop Kyle Whyte coming in.

Looking ahead to this weekend, after his team’s impressive 43-24 win in Potchefstroom last Saturday, Adams is hoping for more of the same.

“We absorbed plenty early pressure against the Leopards and then scored first and from there on it went a bit better and we ran into quite a big lead,” he said.

“After our good start to the season, with some big wins, we have battled a bit for rhythm but I thought we played very well against the Leopards with our attack, in particular, impressing.

“We need to start well and shut the Cheetahs out early, like we did last week, and (again) ensure that we don’t give them a sniff.”

The DHL WP Under-19 team for Saturday (v FS Cheetahs, away) is as follows:

15. Adriaan Carelse
14. Joel Booysen
13. Jarryd Sage
12. Ryan Oosthuizen
11. Leolin Zas
10. Ernst Stapelberg
9. Justin Phillips
8. Dian Koen
7. Luke Stringer
6. Jacques Oosthuizen
5. Johan Momsen
4. David Ribbans
3. Frans van Wyk (captain)
2. Regardt Louw
1. Kyle Whyte

Replacements:
16. Hanno Snyman
17. Lebohang Mdakane
18. Mihlali Mtongana
19. Ruan du Preez
20. Lohann Louw
21. Damian Stevens
22. Brandon Thomson
23. Heinrich Buhr

Referee: Vusi Msibi