Pat Lambie raring to have a go at the Kings

Having eased himself into action after an extended injury layoff against the Force‚ Pat Lambie will be pressed into service as the starting flyhalf for the Sharks' date with the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

Due to Curwin Bosch's unexpected success‚ Lambie wasn't missed but with the France test series just under a month away‚ Lambie is expected to play a key role while his Bulls contemporary Handre Pollard convalesces from his ankle injury.

With the Sharks having dropped just one game in Lambie's absence‚ the 34-29 loss to the Lions on April Fool's Day‚ the 26-year-old has been happy with what he saw from the sidelines but is raring to have a go at a side that nearly pulled his team's pants down on March 18.

• Sharks expect former product Cloete to be a clear, present danger when they meet KingsThe breakdown threat that Southern Kings openside flanker Chris Cloete poses has not gone unnoticed by the Sharks‚ especially in the light of how he made a serious nuisance of himself when the sides met on March 18. 

“There've been some good weeks and not so good weeks but all in all‚ I've been pleased with how the side has been tracking‚" He said.

"We had a really nice win against the Western Force and we were disappointed not to have secured the bonus point.

"We created enough opportunities to give ourselves a chance. At this stage‚ we want to build some nice momentum before the June break because we've got a few tough games ahead‚” Lambie said.

• Sharks ready for anything the street-smart Kings throw at them in Port ElizabethIt was against the Sharks where the Southern Kings offered a glimpse into what looks like their never-ending well of tenacity. 

“If we can put in some good performances‚ we can put ourselves in a decent position ahead of the international window.”

Lambie is one of four changes made by Sharks coach Robert du Preez with the make-up of the starting 15 looking like a side that takes the Southern Kings seriously.

In the corresponding fixture which the Sharks won 19-17‚ a green horn like Benhard Janse van Rensburg were given a run and his inexperience was brutally exposed.

Franco Marais‚ Lwazi Mvovo and Tendai “ Beast” Mtawarira are the players who make their way back into the starting 15 after taking a break last week.

• After subduing the Force, Sharks eye the KingsRobert du Preez's Sharks on Saturday recorded their seventh win of the campaign when they downed the Western Force 37-12 in Durban to stay in contention for a play-off spot. 

Du Preez knows his team have to take control of the game before Deon Davids's side drag them into an arm-wrestle. Former Sharks and Stormers flyhalf Lionel Cronje has been ruled fit for the game.

“The Kings are a really good side if you look at the individuals they have in that team. They've got some very good rugby players and Lionel Cronje has been playing very well. All the guys who played here may have a point to prove‚” Du Preez said.

“Chris Cloete is tough on the ball and we have to eliminate him as a threat at the breakdown but we'll play our own game.

• Sharks coach not too bothered by lack of bonus pointsYou can't have your cake and eat it‚ Sharks coach Robert du Preez reasoned as his team chalked up another Super Rugby win without a bonus point. 

"It's going to be really tough there but we're playing some very good rugby and we're going down there to do a job and that's to bring back the four points.”

Southern Kings: 15 Masixole Banda‚ 14 Wandile Mjekevu‚ 13 Berton Klaasen‚ 12 Luzuko Vulindlu‚ 11 Makazole Mapimpi‚ 10 Lionel Cronje (captain)‚ 9 Louis Schreuder‚ 8 Andisa Ntsila‚ 7 Tyler Paul‚ 6 Chris Cloete‚ 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys‚ 4 Irne Herbst‚ 3 Ross Geldenhuys‚ 2 Martin Bezuidenhout‚ 1 Schalk van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 Kurt Haupt/Tango Balekile‚ 17 Chris Heiberg‚ 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen‚ 19 Lubabalo Mtyanda‚ 20 Stefan Willemse‚ 21 Johan Steyn‚ 22 Pieter-Steyn de Wet‚ 23 Nicolaas Hanekom.

• Kings' Chris Cloete takes road less travelled to the topFew rugby players have taken the same winding road to Super Rugby‚ and possibly Test rugby in the coming months‚ that Southern Kings openside Chris Cloete has run. 

Sharks: 15 Rhyno Smith‚ 14 Jacobus van Wyk‚ 13 Lukhanyo Am‚ 12 Jeremy Ward‚ 11 Lwazi Mvovo‚ 10 Patrick Lambie (captain)‚ 9 Michael Claassens‚ 8 Daniel du Preez‚ 7 Jean-Luc du Preez‚ 6 Philip van der Walt‚ 5 Ruan Botha‚ 4 Etienne Oosthuizen‚ 3 Coenie Oosthuizen‚ 2 Franco Marais‚ 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements: 16 Mahlatse Ralepelle‚ 17 Thomas du Toit‚ 18 Lourens Adriaanse‚ 19 Stephan Lewies‚ 20 Lubabalo Mtembu‚ 21 Jacobus Reinach‚ 22 Garth April‚ 23 Sbu Nkosi.

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport