IT WILL be a case of do or die for the three South African spanne featuring in the Challenge Cup playoffs this weekend, as defending champions the Sharks, Bulls and Lions spring back into action in Europe in the Round of 16, where quarter-final spots will be up for grabs.
While the Lions qualified for the first playoff round by finishing in fourth place in their Challenge Cup pool after winning two of their four matches, the Sharks and Bulls earned their qualification for the competition by finishing fifth in their respective pools in the Champions Cup.
The Lions will take the field first against Edinburgh in London on Friday at 9pm, while the other two matches will play out in France, with the Bulls taking on Bayonne on Saturday at 1.30pm, and the Sharks facing Lyon on Sunday at 6pm.
The Lions face an uphill battle at Hive Stadium against Edinburgh, who have won their last three Challenge Cup matches and who finished their top of their pool.
But with the Gauteng side’s backs against the wall after three defeats in a row in the United Rugby Championship and the team still hurting from their heavy 42-0 pak against the Glasgow Warriors last week, they week they will have all the motivation they need to create an upset and advance to the last eight.
With both teams boasting 18 tries apiece in their Challenge Cup campaign so far and the Johannesburgers having the psychological boost of having thumped Edinburgh 55-21 the last time they crossed paths in the URC, they will enter the match confident about turning around their season.
The Bulls, meanwhile, are in third place on the URC standings and will back themselves against Bayonne.
Siya Kolisi and his Sharks brasse, who fourth in the URC, find themselves in a similar situation to the Bulls in terms of their results in the Champions Cup, where they have won only one match to three by the Frenchmen in the Challenge Cup.
While Lyon have been inconsistent in their Top 14 form of late, the Sharks have done enough to establish themselves as one of the top URC teams this season by playing their way into contention to host a possible quarter-final.
SA TEAMS' CHALLENGE CUP FIXTURES
Friday: Edinburgh v Lions (9pm)
Saturday: Bayonne v Bulls (1.30pm)
Sunday: Lyon v Sharks (6.30pm)