First home win and five points important to UJ

March 7 - On a Monday where most eyes will be on the top-of-the-table clash between the Maties and the Ikey Tigers in Stellenbosch, UJ will try and put together their first home win in this year’s  Varsity Cup competition when they play NMMU at UJ Stadium (kick-off 6.30pm)

UJ are just behind Shimlas on points' difference on the Varsity Cup log and enjoying a good season despite no home win in 2010 - and they need a five-pointer to keep up their challenge for a play-off place.

They won away in Potchefstroom in Week Four, but then went down last week to UCT at the UJ Stadium, having also suffered a heavy home loss to the rampant Maties in a rain-affected match.

Once again UJ head coach Hugo van As has been conservative in his team selection - and if his charges click as they did against the Pukke two weeks ago, NMMU are in for another hiding.

A five-pointer is important in UJ's quest to make the semifinals - and the four tries needed should be within their reach.

**  The unbeaten Western Cape teams will go up against each at 8.30pm. The Maties, back-to-back Varsity Cup champions, will put their outstanding 2010 record of four-try bonus points in five successive matches up till now - on the line when they host the Ikeys in Stellenbosch on Monday night.

These two teams have enjoyed some superb battles in the Varsity Cup, since 2008, and Monday is shaping up as yet another thrilling contest in their short history in this competition (well, short when compared to their Intervarsity clashes).

Only a brave man would bet against the Maties from making it six wins in a row this season - which would leave them one game away from the first-ever unbeaten league season in the Varsity Cup - but, at the same time, only a fool would write off the Ikeys ahead of such a big game.

• With the Maties and UCT occupying first and second place, respectively, on the log, the  Pukke will be cheering for a Stellenbosch victory, but - of course - they will first need to see off the fast-improving TUT Vikings who last week gave the Shimlas a tough time of it in Bloemfontein.

Pukke were made to fight last week by NMMU, but they came away with five valuable log points. Another five points against TUT - or even just four if UCT lose by more than eight points to Stellenbosch - could see them rocket up to second place on the log.

• Of the mid-table teams in action this week, the  Shimlas - who were so impressive in the opening stages of the competition before a Round Three and Four 'mini-wobble' - face the toughest task of all as they have to travel to Pretoria to take on a Tuks team hurting from their Round Five humiliation in Stellenbosch.

Injuries have not helped Tuks either, but the Bloemfontein side cannot afford to underestimate their hosts, who - despite their woeful performance against the Maties - are still in with a semifinal chance if they win with five points and other results go their way.

Monday night’s fixtures (home teams first):
6.30pm: UJ v NMMU (TV)
6.30pm: Tuks v Shimlas
6.30pm: Pukke v TUT
8.30: Maties v Ikeys (TV)