John Plumtree and his Hollywoodbets Sharks side can cement a top four finish on the URC standings if they can beat Ospreys in round 17 in Durban tomorrow night.
The fourth-placed Durbanites require just three more log points to lock down that position and secure a home quarterfinal, a task made easier given the side’s final two round robin fixtures are both being played at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
Still though, many believe the Sharks aren’t quite hitting the level expected of them given their star quality, something with which Plumtree concurs.
“Looking at the ladder and our points, and looking at our game, are two different conversations,” said the 59-year-old. “We’re reasonably happy with where we’re at [on the log] but we’re not happy with the way we’re playing at the moment.”
Heading into this weekend’s penultimate regular season game, and with the Swansea club placed just three points off the top eight in 11th, the Kiwi boss is taking nothing for granted.
Said Plumtree: “Ospreys have beaten Glasgow this year, they’ve beaten the Stormers, they’ve beaten Benetton. They’re floating around close to the top four themselves.
“They’ve got Welsh internationals, they’ve got experience, they’ve got one of the better loose forwards, Jac Morgan, there. He’s pushing for a place in the British & Irish Lions. [Hooker] Dewi Lake is a Welsh captain.
“These guys are a genuine threat, and they can beat anyone on their day, and as we know we can probably lose to anyone on our day.”
In three changes to the starting XV that downed Ulster 22-19 in Belfast a fortnight ago, Siya Masuku comes in for Jordan Hendrikse at flyhalf, Lukhanyo Am is replaced by Jurenzo Julius at No 13 and Dian Bleuler takes over from Ox Nche at loosehead.
“Jordan has had a back issue that’s effected his training week, so we’ve just chosen to rest him. Obviously Grant [Williams] is still out with his neck injury. Lukhanyo has a little bit of swelling on his knee, probably just from playing on those 5G pitches in the UK. Ox [Nche] has been sick.”
The match gets underway tomorrow at 19h00.
