The Japanese Top League is proving to be rich pickings for JP Pietersen, who was part of the Panasonic Wild Knights unit that won its third consecutive title. That party is over, but with Super Rugby's circus starting in a month's time, the Sharks can afford to rest their Japanese crusaders. The Sharks' Super Rugby slog begins against the Eastern Province Kings at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on February 27.Renaldo Bothma, Pietersen, Marcell Coetzee, Jacques Potgieter and Willie le Roux have put in decent shifts in the Land of the Rising Sun, but they are expected back this week.The Sharks have a taxing two-week pre-season trip to France, where they will be facing French powerhouses Toulon on February 5 and Toulouse on February 11.With the travelling squad set to be named on Friday, the five are not expected to be part of the group that leaves on Monday.With a squad shorn of experience and senior players, they will be expected to play a crucial role should they remain injury free.The Sharks' pre-season has seen the players taking chunks out of each other, with defensive patterns often being the core focus of their training sessions.France's Top 14 will be on hiatus for the Six Nations, where France will be hosting Italy and defending champions Ireland on consecutive weekends at the Stade de France.With former Toulouse mentor Guy Noves now in charge of the enigmatic French national team, his preference for players from his former club is apparent in his squad selection. There are seven Toulouse players in his squad - Yacouba Camara, Yoann Maestri, Louis Picamoles, Sebastien Bezy, Jean Marc Doussain, Gael Fickou and Maxime Medard.Whether that will weaken Toulouse remains to be seen, with the giants chasing a semifinal spot in the Top 14.They are currently third behind Racing Metro and Clermont on points difference, with the teams tied on 38 points.Toulon are fourth with 36 points, but they have a tasty European Champions Cup quarterfinal tie with Racing Metro on the weekend of April 8 to 10, as the away side.Having relinquished only one player - captain Guilhem Guirado - for national duty, Toulon will present a serious challenge for the Sharks.They still have the likes of Matt Giteau, Bryan Habana, Juan Smith, Drew Mitchell, Ma'a Nonu and Paul O'Connell to call on.Mathieu Bastareaud may have an even bigger point to prove should he play, after he was dropped by Noves following a terrible World Cup...