North v South blockbuster headlines SA derby weekend as URC playoff race intensifies

The Stormers and Bulls, and coaches John Dobson and Jake White, will renew their heated rivalry in a United Rugby Championship (URC) clash at Loftus on Saturday. 

That match kicks off at 17:05 and will follow another all-South African affair when the Lions host the Sharks in Johannesburg at 15:00. 

While the Stormers are all but guaranteed a playoff position this season, Saturday's clash is still crucial in terms of securing home ground advantage in the quarter-finals and beyond. 

The Stormers are currently second on the log with 50 points and maintaining that position will mean they play at DHL Stadium in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals, should they get that far. 

The Bulls, meanwhile, are fourth on the log with 40 points, and they must keep that position or higher if they are to host a quarter-final at Loftus. 

The Lions (13th with 24 points) will need to win the bulk of their games from here to stand a realistic chance at cracking the top eight and a playoff spot, while the Sharks have it all to play for following a hugely inconsistent campaign so far. 

There is still a lot of rugby left - the Sharks have played 13 of their 18 matches - but the Durbanites are flirting perilously close and are eighth on 33 points, just two points ahead of Edinburgh in ninth. 

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Balancing the demands of the URC and the European Champions and Challenge Cups has been hugely challenging for the South African sides this season, while this weekend is also likely to see the sides without their A-list Springbok stars, who are resting with the 2023 World Cup in mind. 

That could play into the Bulls' hands for this weekend, given that the Stormers will be hit hardest if all of Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Damian