The Eagles face a tough assignment in their opening Top Eight match when the face the highflying Natal Sharks at Absa Stadium on Saturday.

As has been the case in most of their games this season, the men from George will look to keep the battle up front, with their big pack of forwards grinding the opposition down. The recent rains in Durban may help their cause and the heavy field will suit their game to a tee.

If they fail to slow down the opposition ball, the likes of Butch James, Trevor Halstead, Stefan Terblanche and Gaffie du Toit could run them ragged. The latter especially was instrumental in his side's 42-12 demolition of the Cheetahs last week, scoring a try and making at least two others.

But the former Griquas star will need to display some consistency if he wants to regain his place in the national set-up. He has blown hot and cold all season and is yet to show the menace that made him the punter's No 1 choice for Bok colours.

The Eagles have some quality backs of their own and in Theo van Rensburg, a former Bok himself, they have one of the cleverest players in the competition. Add to him the likes of Stormers representatives Manie du Toit and Paul Treu, and the Sharks could be in for a nasty surprise if they rest on their laurels.

Teams for Absa Stadium:

Natal Sharks: Gaffie du Toit, Stefan Terblanche, Joe Gillingham, Trevor Halstead, Rodger Smith, Butch James, Craig Davidson, Shaun Sowerby, AJ Venter, Warren Brosnihan, Mark Andrews (capt), Albert van den Berg, Ettienne Fynn, Chris Rossouw, Ollie le Roux. Substitutes: John Smit, Brent Moyle, Brad Macleod-Henderson, Charl van Rensburg, Stephen Brink, Charlton Kennedy, Hentie Martens.

Eagles: Manie du Toit, Paul Treu, Rickus Lubbe, Rudi Keil, Darryl Coories, Theo van Rensburg (capt), Craig Turvey, Harold Karele, Johan Wasserman, Lodewyk Hattingh, Drikus Hancke, Klein-Jan Tromp, Reinier van den Berg, Tommie Webb, Kenneth Faurie. Substitutes: Jerome Muller, Steven Aylward, Gustav Rademeyer, Connie Botha, Johan Kapp, Trevor Hall, Rynhardt van As.