The Lions will be looking to bounce back from a first round defeat to the Sharks when they entertain Boland in a Currie Cup fixture at Ellis Park on Saturday.

The Lions cannot afford another defeat so early in the competition with points carried over to the next round and Frans Ludeke's men will be going all out for maximum points.

The home team have included fullback Kobus Engelbrecht in the starting line-up, in what will be his first appearance since the 1999 Currie Cup final against the Sharks.

The Lions will have three top-rated goalkickers at their disposal after having included Louis Koen at flyhalf and Clinton van Rensburg at inside centre.

But with players like Werner Swanepoel, Jannie van der Walt and Grant Esterhuizen in the backline the Lions may opt for attacking rugby rather than relying on the boot of a trio of recognised kickers.

The death of Robert Markram has robbed Boland of one of their chief attacking options out wide but with John Daniels on the wing and Wayne Julies at centre, should still pose a problem to the Lions.

On Friday night the Free State Cheetahs open their Currie Cup account with a derby match against the Griffons, and while their Northern neighbours have improved significantly over the years, the hosts should pick up all the points.

The Griffons were comprehensively beaten by the Falcons last week and on that performance will battle to hold their more illustrious neighbours.

All eyes will be on Free State's Springbok discard Rassie Erasmus, who has recovered from a foot injury sustained in practice. The talented flanker has his eyes firmly set on regaining his Springbok jersey and will pull out all stops to impress.

On Friday night the Leopards travel to East London for their encounter against the Bulldogs, who will be keen to bounce back from their defeat at the hands of the resurgent Pumas.

The Pumas will have an ideal opportunity to gauge their Currie Cup aspirations when they play host to the Vodacom Cup champions the Blue Bulls in Witbank.

The Pumas defeated the Bulls in the final of the Sail Rugby Week in Port Elizabeth recently and will be out to prove that success was not a fluke.

The Falcons take on the Eastern Province Elephants at their new home in Kempton Park on Saturday, brimming with confidence after mauling the Griffons last week.

On Sunday, title hopefuls Western Province take on Griquas at Newlands. Captain Pieter Rossouw will make his 100th appearance for Western Province, while Bok discard De Wet Barry will team up with Gus Theron in the Province midfield.

Meanwhile, Bankfin announced on Thursday that the prize to the Man of the Match will be in effect for all Currie Cup matches, not just those televised. Respective winners will pick up R1000.

After the Currie Cup tournament has been completed, a draw will take place and the player whose name gets picked, will win a brand new motor car.

Teams for Ellis Park:

Lions: Kobus Engelbrecht, Gcobani Bobo, Grant Esterhuizen, Clinton van Rensburg, Jannie van der Walt, Louis Koen, Werner Swanepoel, Russell Winter, Wikus van Heerden, Clarke Roberts, Jannes Labuschagne (capt), Kleinjan Tromp, Baksteen Nell, Leon Boshoff, Heinrich Kok, Delarey du Preez, Pietman van Niekerk, Barend Pieterse, Piet Krause, Bennie Nortje, Melvyn Smith, Jorrie Muller.

Boland: Chelton April, John Daniels, Rudi Keil, Wayne Julies, Jan Ackermann, Riaan van Jaarsveld, Cassie Carstens, Henley du Plessis, Hannes de Kock, Jannie Coetzee (captain), Vion Wium, Heino Senekal, Andries Human, Dale Santon, Carel van der Merwe. Substitutes: Martin van Schalkwyk, Fabian Brandt, Randile Julies, Chris Potgieter, Neil Papier, Connie Malherbe, Hyron Thyse.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (Sarfu).

Kick-off: 15:00.

Teams for Free State Stadium:

Cheetahs: Isak Job, Wylie Human, Helgard Brink, MJ Smith, Edrick Fredericks, Conrad Barnard, Neil Powell, Tokkie Kasselman (capt), Rassie Erasmus, Hendro Scholtz, Lodie Britz, Joe Beukes, Dougie Heymans, Andries van der Linden, Daan Human. Substitutes: Attie Winter, Vorster Zeilinga, Gerrie Britz, Gremingo Mzunga, JB Heckroodt, JP du Toit, Ashwell Rafferty.

Griffons: Gielie de Swardt, Brendal Brandt, Gordon Frasca, David van Vuuren, Sacha Marot, Eric Herbert, Charl Blom, Jaco Gouws (capt), Ricardo Arnolds, Clinton van der Westhuizen, Hein Edwards, Bani Holtzhausen, Frans Botes, Leonard van der Merwe, Sarel Louw. Substitutes: Louis Strydom, Stefan Pawson, Malcolm Malan, Marc-Steven Havenga, Bertus Smit, Gustav Rademeyer, JJ Fredericks.

Referee: Deon van Blommestein (WP).

Kick-off: 18:00.

Teams for Absa Stadium, East London:

Border Bulldogs squad: Backs: Richard Bennett, Josh Fowles, Solly Goosen, Greg Miller, Ryan Pickering, David Maidza, Ian Fihlani, Chumani Booi, Dale Heidtmann, Russell Bennett. Forwards: Black Mtimka, Rod Botha, Ondela Kiva, Jane du Toit, Michael Coetzee, Reon Kockjeu, Blackie Swart, Paul Barker, Graham Carlson (capt), Bennie Jacobs, Derek Hendry, Pietie Loots.

Leopards: Danie de Beer, Patrick Pietersen, Johan Calitz, Nico Röhrs, Lawrens Nkosi, Francois Swart, Francois Janse van Rensburg, Theunis Barnard, Bloues Volschenk, Diaan Kruger, Willem Stoltz, Werner Lessing (capt), Pierre du Toit, Hennie Pieterse, Sampie Hendriks. Substitutes: George van der Walt, Rupert Taljaard, André Ceaser, Isaac Treurnicht, John Cooper, Riaan van der Berg, Mark Johnson.

Referee: Marius Franken (Griquas).

Kick-off: 19:10.

Teams for Newlands:

Fedsure Western Province: Jaco van Schalkwyk, Egon Seconds, Gus Theron, De Wet Barry, Pieter Rossouw (capt), Werner Greeff, Dan van Zyl, Adri Badenhorst, Pietie Ferreira, Hendrik Gerber, Hottie Louw, Quinton Davids, Faan Rautenbach, Pieter Dixon, Toks van der Linde. Substitutes: Charl Marais, Morne van der Merwe, Thys Stoltz, Chean Roux, Johannes Conradie, Chris Rossouw, Donovan van Vuuren.

Griquas: Henri van Niekerk, Lourens Venter, Dries Scholtz, Edrich Lubbe, Jearus Nicholas, Quintin van Tonder, Christoff Lötter, Johann de Kock, Daan Liversage, Thando Manana, Hanu Nel, Nelis Swart, Dawie Theron (capt), Hedley Wessels, Riaan Olckers. Substitutes: De Waal Venter, Braam Hendriks, Slang Roux, Solly Tyibilika, Bok Markram, Dennis du Plessis, Japie Swart.

Referee: Andre Watson (Sarfu).

Kick-off: 15:00.

Teams for Barnard Stadium:

Eastern Province Elephants: Ricardo Loubscher, Justin Peach, Fabian Juries, Sam Gerber, Rhys Botha, Monwabisi Mdyesha, Chad Alcock (capt), Barry Pinnock, Heinrich Stride, Sean Plaatjies, Wayne Boardman, Nicky Smit, Pierre Durant, Vorster Venter, Dekado Jantjies. Substitutes: Wayne Bennett, Tjaart Coetzee, Martin Truscott, Michael Vermaak, Chris Jonck, Ronnie Fourie, Andries Fourie.

Falcons: Dawie du Toit, Turtius Douw, Wynand Lourens, Etienne Botha, Johan Houtsamer, Joe Estherhuizen, Deon de Kock, Naas Rossouw, Nicky van der Walt, Lodewyk Hatting, Braam Els, Ralf Schroeder, Matthew Proudfoot, James Dalton (capt), Gunder Williamson. Substitutes: Skipper Badenhorst, Japie Barnard, Nico Wegner, Gustaf
Japtha, Freddy Roberts, Jan Cloete, Jaco Booysen.

Referee: JC Fortuin (WP).

Kick-off: 15:00.

Teams for Bosman Stadium:

Falcons: Not Available.

Blue Bulls: Not Available.

Kick-off: 15:00.

Referee: Jamiel Panday (Boland).