Bulls hooker Grobbelaar ready for Vermeulen clash and Ulster's heat

Bulls hooker Johan Grobbelaar said he's looking forward to playing against former captain Duane Vermeulen, who will be featuring for Ulster this weekend.

The Bulls will be playing Ulster at Loftus Versfeld in a United Rugby Championship fixture, with Vermeulen expected to make an impact for the Northern Irish side.

Vermeulen, who has been capped by the Springboks 59 times, had an exciting tussle with up-and-coming number eight Evan Roos in Cape Town last week.

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He'll be expected to come up against Elrigh Louw in what will be another spicy encounter, but Grobbelaar said it was going to be exciting to play against Vermeulen.

"Duane's a big friend to all of us and I'm looking forward to seeing him again," Grobbelaar said.

"It's going to be strange playing against him at Loftus, but it's going to be a lekker challenge and it'll be my first time playing against him."

The Bulls have the advantage of an early 14:00 kick-off, something that has made the European teams rather unhappy because of the heat on the Highveld.

Edinburgh, who will be playing the Lions later on Saturday, took to the wet conditions at Kings Park with aplomb through a 21-5 triumph last week.

Grobbelaar, who was player of the match for the Bulls in last week's 55-20 hammering of the Dragons, said they'll be ready for the conditions and the all-round threat that is Ulster.

"We'll be better prepared for the heat, so we're actually glad that it's a 14:00 game," Grobbelaar said.

"Those guys have been happier in wet conditions, so we're looking forward to a sunny day and running with the ball a bit.

"They're a great side and they’re second on the log, so it's another massive week for us, but we're looking forward to that.

"It's our fourth