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Griquas captain Naas Olivier will have a chance of reaching 600 points in the Currie Cup competition, when his team tackles the Leopards in a Round Four match in Potchefstroom on Friday.

However, coach Dawie Human has been working hard at keeping his team's feet on the ground and avoid the potential pitfalls that comes with a trip to Potch and an encounter with the lowly Leopards.

Even though the hosts are winless this season and have conceded more than 40 points in both their home games - Western Province won 42-3 and the Lions 43-13 - Theron said they have taken to heart the lessons learnt from last year's visit to this rural town.

Griquas defeated the Leopards convincingly (36-11) in Kimberley, but almost stumbled in the return match in Potch - sneaking a one-point (34-33) win.

"In our team talk on Monday and again at training on Tuesday we made it very clear that we see this as our most important game of the season to date," Theron told rugby365.com.

He added that they will approach the game the same as if they were playing against the Bulls or Sharks.

"The Leopards remain dangerous opponents," he said of the home team.

"We also know how important points on the log are for us if we want to keep alive our dream of a place in the play-offs," he said, adding: "We can't afford to drop points."

Theron spoke of the need to maintain concentration and focus.

"We can't afford to just run willy nilly.

"We have to focus non getting the basics right and maintain our discipline."

If Griquas maintain their structures, then it is likely that Olivier will reach his personal milestone with ease.

The 28-year-old flyhalf has accumulated 583 career points, after making his debut for the Leopards in 2003. The pivot scored 163 points for the Potchefstroom-based side, added 220 while playing for Western Province and has scored 200 for Griquas.

Olivier is currently second on the competition's points-scoring list - his 44 points only five points behind Western Province flyhalf Willem de Waal.

Lock Edrich Linde will be playing in his 49th Currie Cup game for the Leopards.

Recent results:
2005: Leopards won 26-24, Potchefstroom
2009: Griquas won 36-11, Kimberley
2009: Griquas won 34-33, Potchefstroom
 
rugby365.com Prediction: The smart money will be on Griquas, currently third on the standings - having beaten the Sharks and Lions, while going down to the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. The Leopards, who have conceded 122 points (more than 40 per game) and 16 tries (five per game), have been willing and eager, even entertaining at times. However, they lack the depth that is required to be competitive at this level. While there is a very real chance of them knocking somebody over, if the opposition is complacent, it is tough to see them winning on Friday. Griquas by about 20 points.

Teams:

Leopards: 15 Danie Dames, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 Jovan Bowles, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Dumisane Matyeshana, 10 Niell Jacobs, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Riaan Swanepoel, 7 Palm Koch (captain), 6 Danie Crous, 5 Edrich Linde, 4 Anthonie Gronum, 3 Barend van der Walt, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Divan Kotzé.
Replacements: 16 Marthinus van der Westhuizen, 17 Johan Coetzee, 18 Bradley Mockford, 19 Christo van Niekerk, 20 Theo van Wyk, 21 Clayton Durand/Cecil Dumond, 22 Mohammed Samaai.

Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Richard Lawson, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Naas Olivier (captain), 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Wesley Wilkins, 6 Ruan Kitshoff, 5 Cecil Kemp, 4 Frikkie Spies, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Steph Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Jean Botha, 18 Michael Passaportis, 19 Gerhard Human, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Matthew Rosslee, 22 Rocco Jansen.

Date: Friday, July 30
Venue: Olën Park, Potchefstroom
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00)
Referee: Jason Jaftha
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Phillip Bosch

By Jan de Koning