The Leopards are the favourites to claim the title due to their home ground advance and after they finished at the top of the table.

The last time these two teams met, the Leopards beat the Griffons 36-26.

The Griffons finished just one point shy of the Leopards in the standings.

The star Varsity Cup centre for the CUT Ixias, Niell Stannard, told OFM Sport they are confident of causing an upset.

“The excitement in the camp is running high. Luckily for us we have another opportunity to set the record straight against the Leopards.

“We've done our homework of what we did wrong in the pool stages and we worked very hard on those shortcomings so that it won't happen again.

“I believe that the trophy is coming home to where it belongs.”

Friday afternoon’s game at Olën Park in Potchefstroom kicks off at 16:30.

Leopards - 15 Duren Hoggman, 14 Lincoln Daniels, 13 Dries Truter, 12 Tjaart Benade, 11 Eugene Hare, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Riaan Genis, 8 André Fouché, 7 Heinz, Bertram, 6 Siya Mdaka, 5 Vincent Maruping, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Ruan Swiegers, 2 Robey Leibrandt, 1 Komape Moloto.

Replacements – 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Ruben du Plessis, 18 JP Mans, 19 HP Swart, 20 Shirwin Cupido, 21 Edmund Rheeder, 22 Johan Retief, 23 Keagan Fortune.

Griffons - 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Granwill Matthys, 13 Niell Stannard, 12 Duan Pretorius, 11 Morné Joubert, 10 Aphiwe Stemele, 9 Jawinn Juries, 8 Sokuphumla Xakalashe, 7 Ludio Williams, 6 Kenan Cronjé, 5 Michael Benadie, 4 Wikus Niewenhuis, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Kwezi Mkhafu, 1 Stephan de Jager.

Replacements – 16 Dandré Delport, 17 Bandisa Ndlovu, 18 Christo Bezuidenhout, 19 Hannes Janse van Rensburg, 20 Jean Pretorius, 21 Ethan Williams, 22 Thato Mavundla, 23 Arthur Williams.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport