Crunch time as SWD and EP hit the road

Both sides are in the mix for the title, but know that a strong finish will be essential to their hopes as the competition enters the final quarter.

The leading contenders remain tightly bunched. EP have the biggest test this weekend because they come up against logleaders Free State, who, along with North West, are the only unbeaten team in the competition.

With four wins and five draws so far, Free State have a three-point lead over Gauteng and are four points ahead of EP. The EP team have been inconsistent this season, with three wins, three draws and three defeats composing their record.

Free State will be a far tougher proposition than the bottom-placed Namibians, so EP will need to cut their errors for a chance of success.

SWD had a disappointing game against North West in their last fixture, although they bounced back in the second innings with a powerful batting display, earning a draw.

This weekend they will be wanting to go one step better against Northerns. The Gauteng side are low on the log, but are not a team to be taken lightly, especially in Benoni.

SWD are fifth on the log on 87.28 points, but have a match in hand over the top three teams and an outright this weekend should maintain their parity. The Southern Cape team will welcome strike bowler Gurshwin Rabie, who has been released from the Warriors. He and Marcello Piedt will form be a formidable new-ball combination and they will be looking for back-up from the in-form Pabhama Fojela as well as 19-year old Gareth Dukes, who will make his first class debut.

The SWD team is: Ross McMillan (captain), Luthando Mnyanda, Waldo Lategan, Kobus Scholtz, Glen Addicot, Pieter Stuurman, Brendon Louw, Gareth Dukes, Phaphama Fojela, Marcello Piedt, Gurshwin Rabie. Justin Jordaan and Ruan Stander will be added for Sunday's T20 match.