Sharks need to empty the tank and beat the Scarlets to avoid a play-off against the Stormers

If the Sharks hold their nerve as the United Rugby Championship league phase concludes this weekend, the rewards could be substantial — a home quarter-final and semi-final are within reach.

Standing in their way is Saturday’s tricky fixture in Durban against the Scarlets, a Welsh side fighting for their play-off lives. However, a correctly focused Sharks team should see off the visitors and finish third on the final table — assuming, of course, that log leaders Leinster do their part and dispatch the Glasgow Warriors in Dublin.

It would be a major upset if the Warriors managed to topple a Leinster side still smarting from their embarrassing Champions Cup defeat at home to Northampton. Last week, the Dubliners responded by thrashing Zebre 76–5, and given the ongoing fallout from that Champions Cup capitulation, they will leave nothing in reserve against the Warriors.

The form guide suggests that Leinster will top the table after this weekend’s final round of fixtures, with the Bulls in second, the Sharks third, and the Stormers fifth.

The Capetonians would relish a trip to Durban for a quarter-final clash. The Sharks would likely be nervous if such a match-up materialised, but at this stage, it looks as though they may (gratefully) avoid their nemesis and instead welcome former URC champions Munster.

Of course, all of this depends on the weekend’s matches going according to the script. A comment made by Sharks flanker James Venter on Wednesday was particularly telling.

Venter, who is set to join Gloucester in the English Premiership, remarked that the Sharks are, “80 minutes from hitting their straps.”

They’ve been winning without necessarily impressing — yet winning nonetheless — with recent victories over Edinburgh, Ulster, and the Ospreys.

“We started the season slowly, but we believe we are starting to click now and are beginning to gel and build the necessary chemistry,” said the openside flanker. “A lot of players who were injured are now rejoining the squad.

"Our week in Ulster was amazing — the second 40 minutes in that game saw us play some excellent rugby. And against the Ospreys in Durban, we built good phases and controlled the kicking game much better than we have been. We feel like we are peaking at the right time.

“In my view, we are one game away from clicking and being a really dangerous side. We are working towards that 80-minute performance, and hopefully it comes on Saturday against the Scarlets.”

“We’ve identified the Scarlets as a disruptive team — whether it’s at the breakdown, where they hunt turnovers, or in the lineouts, where they also cause problems. We like to attack and build multi-phase play, but they have players who excel over the ball. So, we’ve focused a lot on our breakdown work this week.”

The Sharks need no reminding that the Scarlets recently managed to beat Leinster — a feat the Sharks could not accomplish at home against an under-strength Leinster side. As such, there is no chance of complacency on Saturday night.