DHL Western Province coach John Dobson says his team are taking a ‘different mindset’ into their Currie Cup semifinal clash against the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

DHL Western Province coach John Dobson says his team are taking a ‘different mindset’ into their Currie Cup semifinal clash against the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Dobson’s team finished third on the standings to set up a third consecutive semifinal against their old rivals from Pretoria, having won 31-23 at DHL Newlands in 2014 and 23-18 at Loftus Versfeld last year.

Their passage to the semifinals was certainly challenging, but DHL Western Province finished the league phase of the competition with three consecutive wins to secure third place.

After earning their place in the play-offs, Dobson says that his team has now made a shift in their mindset from fighting for their survival to the more positive outlook of playing for a place in the Currie Cup Final.

“We’ve had about five quarterfinals and we have clawed and fought our way into the semis, and now that we are here it feels like we are playing for something positive with a desire to win. It is a different mindset now,” he said.

Of course, having a host of quality players return to their ranks has helped them to make a significant step up in intensity in their preparation for the trip up to Pretoria.

“What Juan [De Jongh] and Bongi [Mbonambi] have brought to the group has been a big boost, but to also have Dewaldt {Duvensge], Huw Jones and JD Schickerling back [helps],” Dobson said.

The DHL Western Province coach is expecting an aerial bombardment from the hosts, along with their usual physicality.

“We have made some tweaks to our kicking game, handling their kicking game. It is more about handling what we think they are going to do than changing the way we are going to play.

“We expect them to be physical, and we expect the high balls, but we know from our last trip there turnovers are devastating with those guys,” he said.

Dobson added that his side are determined not to take a step back at Loftus, and will take the game to their hosts.

“We are going out there to attack, and to play. If we are going to go out there and be tentative with the mindset of the Bulls bullying us then that is what will happen.

“We are going out there to play, to win and we don’t want to leave there with any regrets. The key thing is to play without fear,” he said.