In-form Steyn wants back in the Bok fold

Frans Steyn has dangled the carrot in front of Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer by stating he wants to play for the Springboks again.

Cheetahs vs Sharks

But he admitted he still needs to focus on the Sharks, who have a crucial date with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein tomorrow.

They need him at his mercurial best.

Steyn in his prime shook off the Super rugby cobwebs against the Stormers last week.

"I would like that [to play for the Boks] but I want to play well for the Sharks this year and I want to build on last season," Steyn said. "I still want to do a lot of things here at the Sharks by the time I'm done here."

Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold hopes his team will have learnt lessons from their 35-29 first-round defeat, where the scrum took a serious pounding.

Getting to grips with their new game plan has not harvested the immediate returns Gold would have wanted, but he has not reached panic mechanic stage.

They will have their first choice front row of Beast Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis and Jannie du Plessis, while Mouritz Botha has recovered from a fractured eye-socket to replace Giant Mtyanda. Renaldo Bothma worms his way back into the No7 jersey at the expense of Willem Albert, who sits out with hamstring tenderness. The backs are unchanged.

Stormers vs Chiefs

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has gambled by resting in-form halfbacks Nic Groom and Demetri Catrakilis for tomorrow's Super rugby encounter against the Chiefs at Newlands.

Louis Schreuder and Kurt Coleman have been elevated to the starting XV and they must cope without lock Eben Etzebeth.

The big Bok did not overcome a shoulder injury and as a precaution he has been omitted in favour of the fully fit Jean Kleyn.

Coetzee suggested that Etzebeth was being rested as part of the agreement with the SA Rugby Union. But as he's only played 44 minutes of Super rugby, "resting" him now is odd.

Argentinian Manuel Carizza and Kleyn will start in the second row, forming the Stormers' fourth lock combination this season already.

Coetzee has fit-again wing Kobus van Wyk back in action after a calf muscle injury delayed his start to the campaign.

Schalk Burger remains on the bench, with the starting loose trio of Duane Vermeulen, Nizaam Carr and Siya Kolisi unchanged from last week's 29-13 win.

"Louis and Kurt have both made an impact off the bench this season and them starting this week, after great work from Nic and Demetri, is also important in our long-term [season] planning," Coetzee said.

Crusaders vs Lions

The last time the Lions beat the Crusaders in New Zealand, Johan Ackermann played at lock for the then Cats, opposite Crusaders captain, now coach, Todd Blackadder.

That was in 2001, when two men were allowed to compete for a rugby ball in the air and a scrum wasn't reset 12 times before open play resumed.

But if you thought Ackermann and Blackadder spent this week reminiscing about the good ol' days ahead of the clash in Christchurch tomorrow morning, you'd be mistaken.

Instead they would have been fastening any loose knots in the forward packs - on which this game hinges - thanks to their own experience in the tight five.

The Lions are up against it for the second week in a row. Last week's surprise victory over the Blues would have chased away the nightmares brought about by their winless three-week run.

Returning for the Crusaders are e ighthman and captain Kieran Read, Owen Franks and Sam Whitelock among the forwards plus Dan Carter in the backline.

The loss of Robbie Fruean to injury aside, this will be the most difficult 80 minutes of the Lions' season.

Super Rugby Fixtures

Today

Hurricanes vs Blues (8.35am)

Force vs Rebels (1pm)

Tomorrow

Crusaders vs Lions (5.30am)

Highlanders vs Waratahs (8.35am)

Reds vs Brumbies (10.40am)

Stormers vs Chiefs (3pm)

Cheetahs vs Sharks (5.05pm)