Sharks head coach JP Pietersen will be looking for a win against Opreys in an attempt to salvage the season.
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If the Sharks players needed any more pressure on their shoulders on Saturday in Bridgend when they try to salvage their United Rugby Championship season against the Ospreys, it will be the presence in the stadium of the club’s bigwigs.
Owner Macro Masotti and other stakeholders have been in London this week for a golf day fundraiser/dinner, and have made the short trip to Wales to encourage their team in the first of four URC games they must win to stand a chance of making the quarter-finals.
Position No 8 on the URC log is the golden position the tenth-placed Sharks want to be in after the four matches. The problem is that the Bulls are currently eighth and seven log points ahead of the Sharks. In other words, the Sharks have to make up at least seven points on the table by the time the curtain comes down on the pool stage.
Exacerbating the pressure on the Sharks is the fact that the Ospreys have not given up the URC fight. They are just behind the Sharks on the table in 11th spot.
The word from their coach, Mark Jones, is that they are going to empty the tank against the Sharks and try to earn five points. They would then leapfrog the Sharks, and the door would be slightly ajar for them to sneak into that eighth spot.
It makes this a tough game to call, as reflected by the bookies calling it even.
Playing a Welsh team on a Saturday night in front of their boisterous supporters is not for the faint of heart, so spare a thought for the 18-year-old fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya, who is making his debut for the Sharks.
His coach, JP Pietersen, reckons he will be just fine.
“Siyaya is very mature when you have a conversation with him, but very quiet. He has a solid head on his shoulders, and he knows what he wants. He looks incredibly comfortable in his position and gives good communication on the field.
"He understands the rugby detail, which is sometimes hard for a youngster to get quickly. It will be a test for him playing in Wales, but he is mature, and we are excited to see what he can do.”
Pietersen acknowledges that the Ospreys are tougher than many South Africans think. He points out that all the Welsh teams are fighting for their lives because the Welsh Rugby Union is set to cut one or two of the four Welsh teams at the end of the season.
“The Ospreys are playing in their hometown, they are desperate men playing for their future. Their players want to be in the mix for the (new) teams next year. They are playing for contracts.
“The Ospreys are a tough side — very direct and physical, but they also like to move the ball.
“It is a very heavy pitch, and they have a good pack. They are going to maul us and be very direct. It will be a gain-line battle.”
Sharks: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Le Roux Malan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Manu Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Phatu Ganyane. Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Jurenzo Julius.
Ospreys: 15 Iestyn Hopkins, 14 Luke Morgan, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Dan Kasende, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Morgan Morris 7 Jac Morgan (cap) 6 James Ratti 5 Ryan Smith 4 Huw Sutton 3 2 Tom Botha 2 Sam Parry, 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Efan Daniel, 17 Garyn Phillips, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Ross Moriarty, 20 Harri Deaves, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Phil Cokanasiga, 23 Jack Walsh