Western Province will be looking to stretch their lead at the top of the Currie Cup log this weekend.

On Friday night they face the Pumas at Newlands at 19:00 with returning Springboks Juan de Jongh and Gio Aplon back in the mix.

The Pumas are second from bottom after a win and two defeats, while Province have 13 points from three matches and a one point lead over the Sharks, who have a tough assignment against the Cheetahs on Saturday.

The Leopards face Griquas in Potchefstroom also on Friday night. Kick off is at 19:00.

At 15:00 on Saturday the Sharks will have two returning Springboks on the bench in Tendai Mtawarira and Ruan Pienaar when they face the Cheetahs.

Kankowski returns to number 8 and Ross Skeate, the former Province lock, starts for the first time.

For the Cheetahs, CJ van der Linde returns to the bench, with the front row of WP Nel, Adriaan Strauss, and the young Coenie Oosthuizen set to impress.

The last Currie Cup match of the weekend is the Lions versus the Blue Bulls at Coca Cola Park at 17:00 on Saturday evening.

The Lions are starting the exciting Elton Jantjies at flyhalf alongside the experienced Doppies le Grange, who returns to inside centre.

For the Bulls Francois Hougaard gets a start at scrumhalf, with Dewald Potgieter and Flip van der Merwe also starting after Bok duty.