The defending champion Sharks, unbeaten and sitting pretty in second place on the standings, are hoping to get some of their Springbok muscle back ahead of a crucial two-match road trip.

The Sharks face Griquas in Kimberley on Friday, before taking on the vastly improved Western Province team at Newlands the following Saturday.

It is a daunting task to face those teams, let alone both in away matches.

Sharks coach John Plumtree said he will only know on Monday if any Boks would become available for Currie Cup duty.

"I don't know who or if I'll get any players back," Plumtree said, adding: "I'm just wanting my guys to get back into training on Monday and do medicals on them and then we'll go from there."

Ten Sharks were involved in the matchday 22 that lost 7-40 to the All Blacks in Wellington at the weekend, and a number of them could be released back into domestic rugby if Bok coach Peter de Villiers decides to fall back on his senior players for the home leg of the Tri-Nations.

Adi Jacobs, Lwazi Mvovo, Patrick Lambie, Jean Deysel, Alistair Hargreaves, Gerhard Mostert and captain John Smit all started against the All Blacks, although Smit is one of the Boks who will definitely not feature in any Currie Cup games this year.

Ryan Kankowski, Charl McLeod and Odwa Ndungane featured off the bench at the weekend and may well be available as well.

However, among those Sharks players who were on a Springbok rehabilitation/training camp near Rustenburg for the past few weeks - and won't be released for Currie Cup duty - are Willem Alberts, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, JP Pietersen and Tendai Mtawarira.

Plumtree admitted the next two games will be crucial.

"I'm hoping we'll get some reinforcements back to be able to give us a bit of a boost, but I'm really happy with way this group is going.

"So, if they can prove to me that they can keep playing like this, then some reputations might be sitting on the bench or not even playing ... and that's what you want.

"We're pretty comfortable with this 22 at the moment.

"Unless there are some injuries, I don't think I'll be changing too much and they've got to keep proving to me that they can do it."

The Sharks mentor said Griquas is "always a tough challenge" for his team, but it's "how we adapt and what we throw at them" that really counts.

Plumtree admitted there is some concern over lock Ross Skeate, although overall it is not looking too bad.

"There are just one or two knocks," the coach said, adding: "Ross Skeate is a bit of a concern for us, but we're hoping that he might be alright by the weekend.

"He twinged his groin in the adductor area, and hopefully with some physio they will get him right."

He added that scrumhalf Conrad Hoffmann is still another week or two away, but might be ready for the Province game.