The Griquas have picked their strongest possible team for Saturday’s Airlink Cup final against the Pumas in Nelspruit.

Last week the Peacock Blues rested some of their frontline players such as Derik Pretorius and George Whitehead against the Leopards in Kimberley.

The scrumhalf, Xavier Swartbooi, who scored a brace of tries on debut last week did enough to be named on the bench as an impact player.

Lourens Oosthuizen has been ruled out for up to nine months with a knee injury, and the see the live-wire flanker, Thabo Ndimande, return to the starting XV.

In addition, the prop Janu Botha, has recovered from a spider bite to his face which led to him being a late withdrawal from last weeks game against the Leopards. He has been named on the bench for the final.

The coach, Pieter Bergh, told OFM Sport that the Pumas will be a tough nut to crack this week, but he believes that they have the team to do the job.

“We believe that this is currently our strongest team, and tactically this is the team we need for what we want to go and do against the Pumas,” said Bergh.

“But, you know, it is their own competition, it is their home ground in their home town and it's their sponsor who sponsors the competition, so playing away will be tough.

“We just hope what we get a fair game and that is all we can ask for.”

This final at the Mbombela Stadium kicks off at 13:00, while at 15:00 the Griffons will face the Leopards in the Shield final.

Griquas - 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Sako Makata, 10 George Whitehead (captain), 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Carl Els, 7 Stephan Smit, 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Cebo Dlamini, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Eddie Davids,

Replacements - 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Janu Botha, 19 Athi Khetani, 20 Albert Liebenberg, 21 Niel Otto, 22 Xavier Swartbooi, 23 Eddie Fouché

Morgan Piek OFM Sport