There will be special milestones for two Isuzu Southern Kings players when they take on the Dragons at the Madibaz Stadium on Sunday.
Forward Dries van Schalkwyk will be playing his 100th Guinness PRO14 match (for Kings and Zebre) and centre Berton Klaasen will be making a landmark 50th appearance for the Kings.
Van Schalkwyk’s appearances have been spread across matches for Italian club Zebre and the Kings, while Klaasen’s Kings’ appearances have been in Super Rugby and PRO14.
“It is a magnificent milestone for Dries and Berton and I am happy for both of them,” Kings head coach Deon Davids said.
“Berton has been absolutely fantastic from Super Rugby going into PRO14 for the Kings. For Dries to play 100 games in PRO14 is a huge achievement.
“We have seen in the past couple of weeks how Dries has applied himself and shared information and got involved in our reviews and previews of matches.
"In my view Dries has knowledge that can be of value to any PRO14 team in the future.”
Van Schalkwyk, 34, said he would not allow the milestone to affect his play against the Dragons.
“I have always taken one day at a time and will not worry too much about playing 100 PRO14 games,” Van Schalkwyk said.
“We have a very good plan that we want to implement against the Dragons and my mind is focused on that. All I want to do is to help my team.
“I gave myself every chance to perform on the field this season. What many people don’t know is that I was injured for a long time in the middle part of my career.
"I still feel very fresh and Kings forwards coach Robbi Kempson asked me the other day how I feel and I told him I do not tire easily.
“My body still feels good and the coaches are managing me well. If Schalk Brits can go until 38, then I have a few years left.
“I used to be able to go and have a few beers after the game and have some fun and not feel much. Now it takes a few days to recover so I lay off the beers.
"Towards the back end of your career your metabolism slows down. I spend a lot of time in the gym and I am managing my body and I love rugby because it has given me so much. "My first game for Zebre was a loss against the Dragons, and I am hoping in my 100th game I can return the favour on Sunday.
“But I will not get caught up in the moment. The Kings have a plan for the Dragons and I will just do everything for the team.”
Davids said scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury and loose forward Bakkies Brown would be going to see a neurosurgeon because he has had a couple of concussions this year.
The Kings will name their team on Saturday.