Sharks boss John Plumtree knows how important away wins are in the Currie Cup and has targeted Friday's clash at Newlands as the perfect platform to establish his team's championship credentials.

The Currie Cup champions tripped up in Kimberley last week and Plumtree said that the humbling experience has steeled his team's resolve to prove they have what it takes to take the title again this year.

He explained: "You have to win games away from home if you want to get a home semi or final. We are certainly disappointed with what happened last week, we have to make up those points. We're ready to go this week, the players are pretty determined."

The Sharks coach is full of respect for the team that Allister Coetzee has moulded this season after losing so many players to the Springbok set-up and he is expecting a fierce backlash from them after they went down to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last week despite leading for most of the game.
 
He commented: "They're an excellent side, even without so many of their players, the way they've played - they could have won that game in Bloemfontein but just missed out."

"They have some outstanding depth, we clearly have to lift it up a couple levels if want to compete down in Cape Town. That's what we're focused on this week, we know it's big challenge, but we know we're capable if we perform at our very best," added Plumtree.

Although the Sharks prevailed convincingly over Western Province in the Currie Cup Final at Kings Park last year, the Super Rugby team suffered defeat home and away to the Stormers this season so both sides will feel that they have something to prove on Friday night.

"After beating them well in the Currie Cup Final, they gave us a hiding in the Super Rugby match in Cape Town, so it's a bit of cat and mouse between us," explained Sharks assistant coach Grant Bashford.

"Both teams play with the right intent, we just need to go down then and get the ship back on the right course," he added.

The Sharks have brought all of their available Springboks bar Adi Jacobs back into the starting line-up and Bashford is confident that they have the players to upset Coetzee's charges in Cape Town, but warned that they will have to nail their gameplan.

"We know if we get it right, play well and hang on to the ball for long passages of play, we can win, but it's really up to us. It doesn't matter who you play, if you don't do that, you aren't going to get what you want," he said.