The 2018 Currie Cup will reach a new level of intensity in round six, with six Springbok squad members having been released to play in the domestic competition.
Another two Springboks who toured Australia and New Zealand, Marco van Staden and Embrose Papier, will be in action for the Blue Bulls Presidents XV vs. Namibia in Windhoek on Saturday, as their team has a Currie Cup bye this weekend.
Furthermore, Francois Louw and Willie le Roux, have returned to their English clubs and will not be available for selection in the Rugby Championship Test against Australia in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, September 29.
So with just 17 players having been named in South Africa's preliminary squad for the Wallabies Test, there are six places in the matchday 23 up for grabs this weekend given that coach Rassie Erasmus has said that he and his team "are looking forward to possibly welcome back some others who have been playing for their provinces and recovered from injury."
KweséESPN looks at five players who will want to make their mark this weekend.
The Boks' squad is less one loose-forward with Louw having returned to his English club, Bath, hence there is a spot open on the bench for the upcoming Test matches.
Sikhumbuzo Notshe will have a chance to play himself into the squad during the weekend's Currie Cup action.
Notshe, who was used off the bench against England, will start in the No. 6 jumper for Western Province when they host the Griquas in Cape Town on Saturday.
He will be hoping to showcase the speed and skill that he is known for in a bid secure an impact-player role off the Springboks' bench.
His skill can break a game open when others' legs are tired, but there's little doubt that Erasmus will be watching his skills come ruck-time in the hope that Louw's breakdown expertise won't be lost entirely.
Another player who featured in South Africa's series win over England and less so in the Rugby Championship is prop Thomas du Toit.
Du Toit converted from loose-head to tight-head prop earlier this year, and he has come into his own after struggling at the beginning of Super Rugby.
He will start for the Sharks when they host the Golden Lions on Saturday looking to remain unbeaten in the competition.
He is a mobile prop whose ability around the park is well-known, but it is at scrum-time that he will look to improve further to convince selectors of his Test match credentials.
He will face even more competition from Sharks teammate and fellow Springbok Coenie Oosthuizen, who takes his place on the bench alongside the returning S'bu Nkosi.
Damian Willemse
There was much discussion over where Damian Willemse would play if he got on the park for the Springboks during the Rugby Championship, with Erasmus hinting that he was being considered predominantly as a fullback.
He made his debut for South Africa against Argentina and Durban and featured in the loss in Mendoza, but his game time was limited.
With le Roux out of contention, Willemse has a real chance to stake a claim for the No. 15 spot.
And that is where he will line-up for Western Province on Saturday, taking the place of Dillyn Leyds, who captained the team earlier in the competition.
He has a mean sidestep but it is his kicking game and safety under the high-ball that will be paramount to him getting selected.
Bongi Mbonambi
Much was made of Erasmus replacing Mbonambi before halftime during South Africa's loss to Australia in Brisbane.
Erasmus, however, explained his reasoning behind the decision after the match: "Bongi has not played a lot and you could see he was struggling."
Hence Mbonambi's assignment will be relatively simple when he starts at hooker for Western Province against the Griquas on Saturday night.
He will be looking to gain and show his match fitness to both the public and the coaching staff, as well as continue his solid showing at set-piece time.
Ross Cronje
Embrose Papier has been the preferred backup scrumhalf for most of the Rugby Championship, but Cronje was selected ahead of the Bulls scrumhalf for the famous match in Wellington.
Despite this, he did not make his way on to the field. As has been the case for most of Erasmus' tenure, Cronje's former Lions teammate, Faf de Klerk, played the full 80 minutes.
Cronje will captain the Lions this weekend, when they travel to Durban to take on the unbeaten Sharks.
With de Klerk clearly the preferred scrumhalf, Cronje will have to convince the Springboks management team that he has the ability to close out a game or provide quality cover should the incumbent suffer an injury in order to move up the scrumhalf pecking order.
Currie Cup Round 6: Line-Ups
Friday, Sep. 21
Free State Cheetahs vs. Pumas
Free State Cheetahs: Adriaan Carelse, Ali Mgijima, Carel-Jan Coetzee, Tertius Kruger, Vuyani Maqina, Ernst Stapelberg, Rudy Paige (c), Daniel Maartens, Jannes Snyman, Abongile Nonkontwana, Louis Conradie, Dennis Visser, Reinach Venter, Elandre Huggett, Johan Kotze
Substitutes: Hanno Snyman, Stephan van Schalkwyk, Nardus Erasmus, Luigy van Jaarsveld, Dian Badenhorst, Reinhardt Erwee, Maputa Dolo.
Pumas: Devon Williams, Morné Joubert, Neil Maritz, Ryan Nell, Ruwellyn Isbel, Christopher Smith, Stefan Ungerer, Jeandré Rudolph, Willie Engelbrecht, Marnus Schoeman, Hugo Kloppers (c), Le Roux Roets, Andrew Beerwinkel, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Morgan Naudé.
Substitutes: Simon Westraadt, De-Jay Terblanche, Cameron Lindsay, Francois Kleinhans, Abrie Griesel, Kobus Marais, Henko Marais.
Saturday, Sep. 22
Sharks vs. Golden Lions
Sharks: Curwin Bosch, Kobus van Wyk, Jeremy Ward, Marius Louw, Lwazi Mvovo, Robert du Preez, Louis Schreuder, Daniel du Preez, Tyler Paul, Luke Stringer, Hyron Andrews, Gideon Koegelenberg, Thomas du Toit, Chiliboy Ralepelle (c), Juan Schoeman.
Substitutes: Akker van der Merwe, Coenie Oosthuizen, Ruben van Heerden, Jacques Vermeulen, Cameron Wright, Sbu Nkosi, Aphelele Fassi.
Golden Lions: Andries Coetzee, Sylvian Mahuza, Lionel Mapoe, Howard Mnisi, Courtnall Skosan, Shaun Reynolds, Ross Cronjé (c), Hacjivah Dayimani, Len Massyn, James Venter, Marvin Orie, Rhyno Herbst, Johannes Jonker, Pieter Jansen, Sti Sithole.
Substitutes: Corné Fourie, Jacobie Adriaanse, Reinhard Nortnagel, Driaan Bester, Nic Groom, Gianni Lombard, Wandisile Simelane.
Western Province vs. Griquas
Western Province: Damian Willemse, Sergeal Petersen, Ruhan Nel, Dan Kriel, JJ Engelbrecht, Josh Stander, Herschel Jantjies, Juarno Augustus, Kobus van Dyk, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Chris van Zyl (c), Salmaan Moerat, Wilco Louw, Bongi Mbonambi, Ali Vermaak.
Substitutes: Scarra Ntubeni, Caylib Oosthuizen, Michael Kumbirai, Ernst van Rhyn, Justin Phillips, Dan du Plessis, Dillyn Leyds.
Griquas: AJ Coertzen, Ederies Arendse, Kyle Steyn (c), Andre Swarts, Enver Brandt, George Whitehead, Zak Burger, Conway Pretorius, Sias Koen, Eital Bredenkamp, Pieter Jansen van Vuren, FP Pelser, Nicolaas Oosthuizen, Khwezi Mkhafu, Devon Martinus.
Substitutes: AJ le Roux, Liam Hendricks, Ewald van der Westhuizen, Sintu Manjezi, Stephan Janse van Rensburg, Wendal Wehr, Christopher Bosch.
