THE Warriors travel to the Mother City to take on Western Province at Newlands for the fourth round of the Cricket South Africa T20 Challenge.
The Warriors head into the encounter on the back foot having lost two consecutive fixtures, one away in the Lions den in Johannesburg, another at home to Division One newbies the Knights in front of the St George’s Brass Band.
It didn’t help that Proteas fast bowler Anrich Nortje was available, nor was it of any value that internationals Matthew Breetzke and Patrick Kruger were in the side in Gqeberha last Sunday as the Warriors found a way to bottle a 167-run chase against the Knights.
On the other hand, Province have momentum on their side having taken the Titans apart in enemy territory in Centurion last Sunday and left SuperSport Park with a bonus point victory.
It is not clear that last season’s captain Kyle Verreynne will play the game given that he only returned yesterday from the United Arab Emirates with the Proteas’ ODI side.
However, Province have David Bedingham at their disposal and an in-form Eddie Moore to open the batting alongside him to take on his former Warriors team.
In Durban, the Dolphins will host the current log leaders North West Dragons at Kingsmead Stadium. Under Wihan Lubbe’s captaincy, the Dragons have moved past the Knights, Western Province and Boland with relative ease.
They too have been boosted with the availability of Proteas all-rounder Marco Jansen, however, all their fixtures have been at home in Potchefstroom and will now be tested away from home.
The Dolphins are desperate for a victory having lost all three opening fixtures of the competition including a home fixture against the Titans a week ago.
In other fixtures, the Lions will take on the Knights at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein in search of their third victory of the tournament while the hosts will be searching for their second of the campaign.
A wounded Titans outfit hosts Boland at Centurion, and given that Proteas batter Heinrich Klaasen did not make the playing XI last Sunday and that led to a loss, it could be that the explosive batter will take to the field at home tonight.
All fixtures are set to get underway at 6pm SAST.