The Bankfin Cup competition kicks off on Friday when the Boland Kavaliers host the SWD Eagles at Wellington's Boland Stadium.
The Bankfin Cup competition is for the teams who haven't qualified for the Top 8 phase of the Currie Cup competition. Boland collected 8 points, the Spoornet Bulldogs 5, the Vodacom Eagles 5, Leopards 5, Griffons 4 and the Mighty Elephants 3 in the preliminary phase of the Currie Cup competition.
All eyes will be on Boland's Springbok centre Marius Joubert (pictured), who is back in action after suffering a knee injury against the All Blacks earlier this year.
The Border Bulldogs begin their assault on the Bankfin Shield with one away and two homes matches starting this Saturday.
The away match comes first when the Bulldogs square up against the Eastern Province Mighty Elephants at Telkom Park this Saturday.
In the weekend's other Bankfin Cup game the Leopards entertain the Griffons at Olen Park, Potchefstroom.
Teams for Boland Stadium, Wellington:
Boland: Lean van Wyk, John Daniels, Rudi Keil, Riaan van Jaarsveld, Hyron Thyse, Chelton April, Cassie Carstens, Henley du Plessis, Hannes de Kock, Jannie Coetzee (capt), Randile Julies, Heino Senekal, Andries Human, Dale Santon, Carel van der Merwe. Substitutes: Martin van Schalkwyk, Fabian Brandt, Voin Wium, Chris Potgieter, Stanley Raubenheimer, Marius Joubert, Jan Ackerman.
SWD Eagles: Bevin Fortuin, Virgil Frans, Grant Henderson, Jerome Muller, Keith Meyer, Bernie Hennessey, Noel Oelshig, Nico Breedt, Barry Jacobsz, Riaan Thomas, Johan Kapp (capt), Francois du Toit, Neil du Toit, Rich Verster, Flippie Spies. Substitutes: Connie Botha, Patrick Bell, Jandry de Lange, J C Roux, Rynard van As, Joggie Viljoen, Jeremy Plaatjies.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (Sarfu).
Kick-off: 16:00.
Teams for Telkom Park, Port Elizabeth:
Eastern Province: Justin Peach, Nardi Lombard, Sam Gerber, Ronnie Fourie, Fabian Juries, Monwabisi Mdyesha, Chad Alcock, Barry Pinnock, Heinrich Stride, Wayne van Heerden, Rory Duncan, Wayne Boardman, Tjaart Coetzee, Vorster Venter, Dekado Jantjies. Substitutes: Wayne Bennett, Pierre Durant, Nicky Smit, Sean Plaatjies, Chris Jonck, Tobi de Jager, Andries Fourie.
Bulldogs: Russell Bennett, Odwa Ndungane, Dale Heidtmann, Werner Coetzer, Ian Fihlani, Solly Goosen, Richard Bennet, Pietie Loots, Derek Hendry, Graham Carlson (capt), Bennie Jacobs, Reon Kockjeu, Vaughan Graham, Tjoepie van den Heever, Jane du Toit. Substitutes: Lwanda Figlan, Michael Coetzee, Paul Barker, Marcel van der Walt, David Maidza, Josh Fowles, Werner Gey von Pittius.
Referee: Michael Katzenellenbogen (Natal)
Teams for Olen Park, Potchefstroom:
Leopards: Riaan van den Berg, Laurence Nkosi, Johan Calitz, Ian Noble, Mark Johnson, Francois Swart, Bennie Kotze, Johann Smith, Bloues Volschenk, Isaac Treurnicht, Willem Stoltz (capt), Theunis Barnard, Pierre du Toit, Hennie Pieterse, Hannes Human. Substitutes: Michael Laubscher, Sampie Hendricks, Andre Ceaser, Louis van Niekerk, Pietie Meyer, Nico Rohrs, Danie de Beer.
Griffons: Gielie de Swart, Sacha Marot, Brendell Brandt, David van Vuuren, Malcolm Malan, Louis Strydom, Charl Blom, Jaco Gouws (capt), Kevin Rabie, Ricardo Arnolds, Thys Louw, Bani Holtzhausen, Bertus Smit, Gustav Rademeyer, Frans Botes. Substitutes: Leonard van der Merwe, Allistar Lyon, Hein Edwards, JJ Fredericks, Stefan Pawson, Eric Herbert, Renier de Jager.
Referee: Tappe Henning (Sarfu).