Although only third on the Top Eight log and having recently received a thrashing at the hands of Western Province, the Lions should not be underestimated. That is the word from Bok centre Robbie Fleck, who has tipped them as the team to beat.

With a probable home semifinal against the men from Johannesburg on the cards, Fleck has warned about the dangers of complacency. "The Lions were a little off the boil, but there are so many great players and leaders in their side and they're on an upward curve again," Fleck was quoted in the Cape Times.

"Natal are on a high and when that's the case there is always the chance of a dip. They played their best game against us and we played potentially our worst against them when we lost 28-19. It was their game plan to disrupt us," added Fleck.

"If the Lions manage to hold onto the ball they are very dangerous. If we get them in the semifinals we will be under a lot of pressure. We're all hoping that we get a playoff against Boland."

Meanwhile, coach Gert Smal may decide to rest some key players for Saturday's clash against the Boland Kavaliers at Newlands. Western Province only need one point from the match to secure a home semifinal and are expected to give some fringe players a run before the knockout stage gets underway.

Braam van Straaten is likely to return to the more familiar flyhalf slot, while De Wet Barry has sat out the mandatory two weeks for the concussion he picked up against the Lions and will return to inside centre.

Jeffrey Stevens will probably replace Breyton Paulse on the wing, while Neil de Kock, Robbie Brink, Thys Stoltz and Toks van der Linde might also get a start.