The "Battle of the Provinces" resumes when the 2000 edition of South African rugby's premier domestic competition, the Bankfin Currie Cup, kicks off this weekend.

The competition, which this year features an innovative new format designed to prolong and enhance spectator value, was officially launched at the Randpark Golf Club on Thursday.

The competition opener sees Fedsure Western Province host the Vodacom Bulldogs at Fedsure Park Newlands in Cape Town on Friday.

"We are expecting this year's Bankfin Currie Cup to be one of the toughest and most entertaining in years," said Bankfin chief operating executive Dolf Wright. "Last year, despite many teams being without their World Cup Springboks, the competition still ended on a high note with a great final between the Lions and Sharks.

"Also, the top players will be available to their provinces for the greater part of the competition this year. The new format used this season will give added value to spectators and generate additional interest as the 14 provinces do battle for the top honour in South Africa," Wright said.

Under the new format, the provinces are divided in two sections of seven, based on their performances over the past two seasons. Section X includes the Sharks, Cheetahs, Lions, Falcons, Elephants, Cavaliers and Griffons, while Section Y features the Blue Bulls, Griquas, Eagles, Western Province, Pumas, Bulldogs and Leopards.

A single round of matches is played within each section, after which the top four teams advance to the "Top Eight" round of extended quarterfinals, which begins on the weekend of September 22-24 . Teams will carry over points earned against other "Top Eight" qualifiers.

Matches are then played across sections with the four teams in the respective sections playing against the four in the opposite one. Each team will play two matches at home and two away. The four teams with the most points at the end of the "Top Eight" qualify for the semifinals on October 21.

Team 1 will play team 4 and team 2 will play team 3, with the first- and second-placed sides playing at home. The final takes place on 28 October.

Teams finishing in the last three places in each section after the first round will proceed into a similar competition to play for the Bankfin Cup. Quarterfinals in this competition start on the weekend of 22-24 September, semifinals take place on the weekend of October 13-15 and the final on October 21.

This year marks the first time that quotas will be applied in the Bankfin Currie Cup, a decision approved by the SARFU executive committee in June 1999. Each squad of 22 must include at least three black players with a minimum of two in the starting line-up.

"The new format of the Bankfin Currie Cup will guarantee the traditionally 'big' provinces play against each other during the season," said SARFU chief executive Rian Oberholzer. "We had to find a way to achieve this while simultaneously increasing spectator value for the premier local competition. This is possible through the new format.

"With regards to the quota, we are convinced there were more than enough talented black players at the Vodacom Cup who will hold their own at this level. The quotas are there to create an opportunity for these players to prove their merit. We have already seen the impact of this in several warm-up matches this season and are satisfied the standard of the competition will not be compromised as has been speculated by some."

This year's Bankfin Currie Cup will be promoted under the slogan "The Battle of the Provinces", with the emphasis being on marketing matches at regional level within the 14 provinces.

"The Bankfin Currie Cup provides provincial rivalry at its best," said Bankfin marketing manager Bekker van Wyk. "We will draw on this rivalry in our marketing campaign to ensure the support the competition and teams have enjoyed over the years is maintained and increased."

The opening match in Cape Town will be an intriguing occasion. Province prop Toks van der Linde will run out for his 100th provincial cap, while the Newlands-based team's new coach, Gert Smal, will be looking to put to the sword his former Bulldog charges.

Even without their numerous Springboks, WP should carry too many big guns for the plucky Bulldogs - with Dan van Zyl, Hottie Louw and Brendan Venter eager too impress the national selectors. The inclement weather could, however, trip up WP's attempt to kick off their campaign with a runaway win.

Laurie Mains' Lions will be under pressure to repeat the success of last year, but with the experienced Hennie le Roux and Hannes Strydom in their ranks they should start where they left off when they face the Boland Kavaliers in Wellington. Hooker James Dalton, after a long absence from competitive rugby, will do duty on the bench.

Eugene van Wyk takes his Mr Price Blue Bulls crew to Kimberley on Saturday and will rely heavily on the Springbok experience of Naka Drotske, Os du Randt, Ruben Kruger, Franco Smith and Anton Leonard. Nashua Griquas are, however, never an easy experience. The Bulls lost the services of Vodacom Super 12 lock Wium Basson to a broken jaw this week.

Griquas welcome back flank Thando Manana and lock Victor Matfield from national under-23 duty and will be at full strength for the first time this season. After an impressive Vodacom Cup, where he was named Defender of the Series, the Currie Cup will be a further test of the talented Manana's ability.

Mighty Elephants captain Chad Alcock has expressed confidence in his team's chances against the rugged Falcons outfit in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. "We have the advantage of playing at home. EP always play well here and last season we only lost two home games.

"The way we played in our friendlies the last three weeks was pleasing and the victory against the Blue Bulls was a huge confidence booster," Alcock said.

Vodacom Free State Cheetahs, the Vodacom Cup champions, will be aiming to add the Currie Cup to their trophy cabinet and kick off their season with a derby match against the Griffons in Bethlehem on Saturday.

In the remaining fixture, the Vodacom Eagles host the Leopards in George. Both the Natal Sharks and the Pumas have a bye.

Currie Cup programme and teams:

Friday:

Cape Town, Fedsure Western Province vs Vodacom Bulldogs, 7.15pm:

Fedsure Western Province: Donovan van Vuuren; Gus Theron, Werner Greeff, Brendan Venter, Jeffrey Stevens; Robert Markram, Dan van Zyl; Chean Roux (capt), Mark Willard, Brandon Bekker, Hottie Louw, Brett Barrett, Faan Rautenbach, Johan van Wyk, Toks van der Linde. Substitutes: Patrick Bell, Jane du Toit, Thys Stoltz, Adri Badenhorst, Neil de Kock, Werner Gey van Pittius, Yazeed Manuel. Vodacom Bulldogs: Wayne Weyer; David Maidza, Fergus Kennedy, Ryan Pickering, Dale Heidtmann; Greg Miller, Vakalisile Nako; Graham Carlson (capt), Bennie Jacobs, Derek Hendry, Andre Fox, Phillip Schutte, Tjaart Coetzee, Paul Saffy, Heinrich Kok. Substitutes: Louis Tauber, Ian Fihlani, Richard Bennet, Rob Rushmere, Mario Botha, Tjoepie van den Heever, Tinus Cronje.

Saturday:

Port Elizabeth, Mighty Elephants vs Falcons, 3.10pm:

Mighty Elephants: Ricardo Loubscher; Nardi Lombard, Rhys Botha, Tobi de Jager, Wonga Joka; Graeme Bouwer, Chad Alcock (capt); Jacques Greeff, Barry Pinnock, Johan de Kock, Chrisjan van der Westhuysen, Gerhard Laufs, Baksteen Nell, Vorster Venter, JC Roux. Substitutes: Tom Drewett, Danie Saayman, Nelis Swart, Jonathan Staples, Albert Viljoen, Richard Jordaan, Ronnie Fourie. Falcons: Piet Matthys; Tertuis Douw, Joe Esterhuysen, Eugene Meyer, Adrian Jacobs; Pieter Jordaan, Deon de Kock; Kurt Steinbach, Bakkies Botha, Stephan Brits, Nico Wegner, Ralf Schroeder, Jaco Espag, Danie van der Walt, Gunder Williamson. Substitutes: Freddy Roberts, Louis van Rensburg, Peet van Deventer, Skipper Badenhorst, Lawrence Sephaka, Jaco Booysen, Emile de Beer.

Bethlehem, Griffons vs Vodacom Free State Cheetahs, 3.10pm:

Griffons: Gielie de Swardt; Renier de Jager, Willie Nagel, Albertus van Buuren, Malcolm Malan; Rouan Nel, Charl Blom; Jaco Gouws, Ricardo Arnolds, Neil Goosen, Barnie Holtzhausen, Andre Fouche (capt), Frans Botes, Lucas van Biljon, Kobie Appelgryn. Substitutes: Eric Herbert, Zoy Edwards, Phillip Gallant, Marcel van der Walt, Thys Louw, Leonard van der Merwe, Kees Lensing. Vodacom Free State Cheetahs: Michael Horak; Wylie Human, JP du Toit, MJ Smith, Friedrich Lombard; Kennedy Tsimba, Jimmy Powell; Tokkie Kasselman, Jaco Coetzee, Attie Stander, Joe Beukes, Braam Els, Dougie Heymans, Germaine Brinkhuis, Dirkie Groenewald. Substitutes: Danie Coetzee, Daan Human, Gerrie Britz, Hendro Scholtz, Neil Powell, Ferdie Wesso, Conrad Barnard.

Kimberley, Nashua Griquas vs Mr Price Blue Bulls, 3.10pm:

Nashua Griquas: Andre Vermeulen; Charl Scholtz, Edrich Lubbe, Dries Scholtz, Jearus Nicholas; Boeta Wessels (capt), Hakkies Husselman; Janneman Brand, Pierre Uys, Thando Manana, Victor Matfield, Slang Roux, Dawie Theron, Tom Cameron, Danie Vermeulen. Substitutes: Hedley Wessels, De Waal Venter, Chris Joubert, Bok Markram, Christoff Lotter, Dirkie Strydom Dries Scholtz, George Binikos. Mr Price Blue Bulls: Casper Steyn; Ryno Hendriks, Danie van Schalkwyk, Franco Smith, Wim Meyer; Marius Goosen, Conrad Breytenbach; Anton Leonard, Joseph Ntsongwana, Ruben Kruger (capt), Draadkar de Lange, Derick Grobbelaar, Piet Boer, Naka Drotske, Os du Randt. Substitutes: Jan Cloete, Tiaan Joubert, Coenraad Groenewald, Danie Rossouw, Pierre Ribbens, Christo Bezuidenhout, Jannie Brooks.

George, Vodacom Eagles vs Leopards, 3.10pm:

Vodacom Eagles: Theo van Rensburg; Paul Treu, Rickus Lubbe, Rudi Keil, Darryl Coeries; Rynhard van As, Craig Turvey; Harold Karele, Johan Wasserman, Lodewyk Hattingh, Drickus Hancke, Klein-Jan Tromp, Renier van der Bergh, Tommie Webb, Lourens Campher. Substitutes: Gustav Rademeyer, Connie Botha, Johann Kapp, Denzil Frans, Wayne Munn, Dominic Malan, Manie du Toit. Leopards: Sollie Goosen; Keith Meyer, Johan Calitz, Ian Knoble, Len van Riet; Roland de Marigny, Eben Verster; Johann Smith, Bertus Poole, Bloues Volschenk, Werner Lessing, Casper Oosthuizen, Tenk Hendricks, Basil de Koning (capt), Hannes Human. Substitutes: Wimpie Jonker, AJ de Jager, Rudi Muller, Willem Stoltz, Brian Christians, Sampie Hendriks, Hennie Pieterse.

Sunday:

Wellington, Boland Kavaliers vs Lions, 3.10pm:

Boland Kavaliers: Leandre van Dyk; John Daniels, Marius Joubert, Wayne Julies, Jan Ackerman; Riaan van Jaarsveld, JP du Plooy; Chris Potgieter, Allen Williams, Jannie Coetzee (capt), Vion Wium, Heino Senekal, Dirk Hanekom, Martin van Schalkwyk, Carel van der Merwe. Substitutes: Dale Santon, Rudolf Bosch, Randile Julies, Quinton Hough, Martin Stander, Quinton Daniels, Antonius Verhoefen. Lions: Andre Pretorius; Jannie van der Walt, Gordon Frasca, Mac Masina, Conrad Jantjies; Hennie le Roux, Brett Johnstone; Torros Pretorius or Russell Winter, Walter Minnaar, Piet Krause, Hannes Strydom (capt), Johan Ackermann, Nic Moore, Leon Boshoff, Delarey du Preez. Substitutes: James Dalton, Pietman van Niekerk, Torros Pretorius or Russell Winter, Eric van der Merwe, Grant Bartle, James Moss, Jaco Booysen.