24/04/2008 09:20

Johannesburg - Coming off an unnecessary defeat against the Brumbies, the Sharks' Super 14 rugby match against the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday is probably the most important of the season for the Durban-based franchise.

A win will firmly entrench them in the second position in their quest for a home semi-final.

A loss will see them drop to at least third place and even as far as fifth position, depending on how the Stormers and the Chiefs do - and that is not the ideal scenario, with a match against Crusaders in Christchurch looming the following week.

The Sharks played some of their best rugby this season in the first half against the Brumbies. They also displayed some of their poorest form in the second, when they couldn't get their hands on the ball.

Should they strike the sort of form they're capable of the Waratahs -even at home and on a roll - will not be able to weather the onslaught.

The Waratahs are a well-balanced side. They have a number of big names up front, and a backline that supplements them well with young Keartly Beale - only 19 years and three months old and winner of the Man of the Match award last week - a pivot of note.

Vulnerable

On his outside he has playmakers of the quality of Sam Norton-Knight, Lachlan Turner, Lote Tuqiri and Tom Carter.

The Waratahs can score tries. They boast 25 to the Sharks 18 in nine matches. But for all their stars up front this is where they could be they're vulnerable as the Lions showed for 40 minutes last week - and this is probably where Dick Muir will decide to attack them.

The Cheetahs play the Hurricanes in Kimberley. The visitors will only realise during the match on Saturday how inhospitable a place this can be when they run out onto the bone-hard field.

On paper and performance, the Hurricanes should win this match - but they have shown that they do blow hot and cold and the futile effort in last weekend's crunch game against the Stormers could play on their minds just as the hard field will on their bodies.

A win for them is no foregone conclusion.

The Stormers, fourth on the log, will underestimate the lowly Highlanders at their peril when they meet at Newlands on Saturday. They simply have to win and also collect five points from the match to keep up with the front-runners.

Playing with a new halfback pairing - albeit both of them internationals - the Stormers will have to find their rhythm early on against a side that has struggled all season.

Home

A sniff of success early on and the Highlanders could make them pay, although that looks unlikely.

In the fourth match on Saturday, the Chiefs are at home to the Reds.

Both sides started the competition hesitantly, but have lately accounted for some big names.

The Chiefs, in particular, need a win desperately, as defeat will see them plunge to ninth position on the log and too far behind to make a semi-final a realistic thought.

The weekend's fixtures are (SA times, home teams first): Friday: Crusaders v Blues, 09:35; Brumbies v Lions, 11:40 Saturday: Chiefs v Reds, 09.35; Waratahs v Sharks 11:40; Cheetahs v Hurricanes 15:00; Stormers v Highlanders, 17.05.