The Sharks Lions game will start answering some questions.

The Sharks are going to be put to the test against the Lions who have shown a big improvement and have lifted their game to another level…Ackerman seems to be doing the right things…despite their mediocre performance and substantial loss to the Crusaders last game…no tries by either side in the first half but the Crusaders came back with 3 in the second half to win comfortably.

The question is…are the Crusaders getting better as the tournament moves along as they had tended to do in the past or has the resurgence of the Lions merely been a flash in the pan with Marnitz Boshoff being a dead-eye sharp shooting point scorer that failed uncharacteristically in the last game? Well these questions might well be answered on Saturday or at least shed some light on the bona fide strengths the Sharks have shown in their home games.

So far the Sharks have had it good but the acid test will come when the Sharks start packing their traveling bags to play away, most definitely when they leave SA shores to Oz and NZ.

Of all the SA sides, the Sharks travel best on record but have they really been put to the test??

The Bulls away game in my opinion was a dodgy test because when you lose your key no 10 and 9 in one foul swoop obviously impairs you…rather like walking into a boxing ring with one hand tied behind your back…not quite (don’t mean any disrespect for the Bulls) but still a great handicap…any fair minded person will agree in this context.

The other interesting game will be Cheetahs against the Crusaders…this too will shed further light on the above question and also on the condition of the Cheetahs game. Could the Cheetahs start turning around or are the Crusaders better than what their critics say?

Yes, indeed these are the type of meetings that make everyone nervous...on both sides but for similar and not so similar reasons...psychologically the paradox is that the underdog is better suited...this happens so often it cannot be ignored or scorned by the cynics.

The Sharks of course man for man are a better side and have several advantages...their biggest is their guru coach who seems to know how to psychologically prepare his sides.

The Lions coach too, appears to being doing something right...the Lions will have "the do or die" attitude and will fling everything they have (an more if possible) at an old arch enemy cornered in smog town...visiting sides hate playing there I believe, except of course the Boks but that's different being a national issue.

The Cheetahs game will be very interesting too because their positioning is similar and the Crusaders will always come back...the poor old Stormers as they stand will need some form of a miracle to get back on track...a bye this week end and then the Cheetahs @ Newlands but I cannot see it...I don't think Smal will make any difference.

The Stormers are in the panic mode...the most debilitating enemy of all...the more losses the worst the condition becomes...it's more of a mindset...sure they've lost key players but so have most teams...the problem is psychological.

Sas you're right honourable San...sometimes...lol but NZ rugby union budget will have to include the purchase of more cabinets?....hahaha 

"Man for man" is not really what was meant...very seldom will you find any team where this is possible but the Sharks in total certainly have considerably more than an edge over the Lions. Maybe you respect the Lions too much because they prevented the Saders from scoring any tries in the first half?

The Force, Highlanders and maybe the Rebels (with some reservations) could creep or wedge in somewhere...it's a funny game without the "old" Crusader march, even the Chiefs are very vulnerable but imo the most stable and consistent of all...the Sharks don't count yet...they still have to run the gauntlet and baptism of fire.

I'd like to confident but I'm not...the only real confidence I have is in this man Jake...if the Sharks cannot do it with him, they never will...anyway that's just the way I feel or see it.