Final chance for Kings to impress

FOR the first time this season EP Kings head coach Carlos Spencer is expected to give an indication of his starting line-up for the upcoming Currie Cup Premier Division when he names his team to face the Cheetahs in a friendly.

Up until now Spencer has been "mixing and matching" his teams and giving as many players as possible a chance to put their hands up for a berth in the Currie Cup starting line-up.

Friday's friendly against the Cheetahs in Cradock is EP's final warm-up for what will be a gruelling Currie Cup campaign.

After a 12-year absence the Kings return to the top flight against Western Province at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on August 8.

It remains to be seen whether skipper Luke Watson is fit to take his place in the team for what is shaping up into a key encounter in Cradock.

Watson left the field with a rib injury in a friendly against the Sharks on July 4 and he will be anxious to prove he is ready to lead the team out against Western Province.

If Watson has not recovered, then Spencer and his coaching team will have to find a captain for a game where experience and leadership will be crucial.

It is also expected that former Baby Bok and Stade Francais hooker Michael van Vuuren will get his chance to stake a claim for the Western Province opener.

There is fierce competition among the contenders to become the "happy hooker" who starts in the front row next month against WP.

In their warm-up outings the Kings have fielded four hookers in friendlies against Wales, a Bulls 15, a Sharks 15 and the SWD Eagles and it remains to be seen who will emerge as the No1 choice.

Edgar Marutlulle, Albe de Swardt, Van Vuuren and Dane van der Westhuyzen are all hoping to make the squad to face Western Province. Van Vuuren, who made his debut for the Kings when he came on from the bench against the Sharks, was not considered for the Eagles match because was undergoing a conditioning phase.

"As we mentioned after the Sharks game, a few of the players are giving us selection headaches, which is good," Spencer said.

There is also a chance Springbok prop CJ van der Linde will get an outing against the Cheetahs if he can prove his fitness after a long layoff.

After weeks of working on his fitness by running on the side of the field during a reconditioning phase, Van der Linde clearly enjoyed being back on the training pitch among his teammates last week.

While Van der Linde has been on the sidelines, Lizo Gqoboka and BG Uys have been staking their claims for the loosehead berth while Charl du Plessis and Tom Botha are contesting the tighthead position. - George Byron