The Toyota Cheetahs are set for a major boost ahead of their important Free State derby against the Griffons in the Currie Cup.

The Cheetahs will head to Welkom needing to return to winning ways following their disappointing 25-13 defeat to the Blue Bulls in Pretoria last week.

The Cheetahs are mindful of the fact that their last trip to Welkom resulted in a 36-33 defeat to the Purple People Eaters.

The Cheetahs will, however, have the big ball carrier, Friedle Olivier, at their disposal for the game after he has recovered from a lengthy injury. He is fit and available to play, and he told OFM Sport that he is itching to get back out on the park.

“I got that ankle injury there in Welkom last year, but luckily inbetween then and now I played in that SA Cup game, which I made it through, so that's in the past.

“On Friday, when I get the chance to play, it's going to be a big one as I've been out for a while now struggling with a bit of an injury, but luckily that’s also in the past now and I'm back.

“It’s going to be a lekker one – I’m very excited to play, I’m very excited to hit the park again. That eagerness to get out there is just insane, and it’s just lekker to be part of the group, train with the boys again and do what I love.

“We’re going to hit that park running and we’re going to show everybody what the defending Currie Cup champions can do.”

Friedle Olivier and his son at the Springboks Test against Portugal in Bloemfontein. Photo: Morgan Piek

Olivier added that while they suffered their first defeat of the season, it’s by no means panic stations yet, and this week it’s a matter of getting back onto the horse following a stern wake-up call.

“I think the first three weeks went by quickly and as you say, the performance wasn't too great.

“On last weekend, the boys knew it, and the boys admitted it. The Bulls, we’ll give it to them, they played a good game, they were physical, they outplayed us in areas and forced us to play in areas of the field where we didn't want to play.

“Unfortunately, that's how the game goes – sometimes you just get that game where nothing wants to fire, and that was this game for us. Last year, in the Currie Cup, when we lost those three or four games in a row, everybody also thought it’s over for us. We regrouped, we got back to it and in the end, we won the Currie Cup. So, I don’t think the Currie Cup is won in July.

“We're already fixing the mistakes we made and the execution errors. We're fixing it, so that this weekend we can hit the park running and that we play the way we want to play.”

Friday’s Free State derby between the Griffons and the Cheetahs in Welkom will kick off at 15:00.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport cg