The tournament kicked off on Friday night, with last season’s runners-up, the Pumas, thrashing the South Western Districts Eagles 75-7 at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

The bulk of the matches will take place on Saturday, and the new-look Leopards will be at home to the Peacock Blues.

Arguably, the Leopards’ biggest signing in the off-season was the seasoned tighthead prop Ig Prinsloo, who hails from Potchefstroom. A product of Grey College in Bloemfontein, Prinsloo has spent most of his career at the Pumas, though he also had a stint with the Sharks in Durban.

The 27-year-old Prinsloo has been named captain of the team, and he told OFM Sport that it’s a great honour to lead his 'home team' onto the park.

“As a team, we’re looking forward to taking to the field after a good pre-season, where we, as a new group of players, came together and prepared well,” said Prinsloo.

The preparation has gone really well, and we’ve set ourselves new targets as a team.

“For me, being back home is great. I'm originally from Potch, and this is where it all began for me. It's nice to be back and to be able to play for the Leopards.

“Being appointed as the captain is a big honour and a role I’m really looking forward to fulfilling within the team.”

Ig Prinsloo during the 2022 Currie Cup final between the Griquas and Pumas in Kimberley. Photo: Morgan Piek

It will certainly be a tough baptism of fire for Prinsloo and the other debutants at the Leopards, but it will be a good measure of the progress they have made over the past year, particularly in the last six months.

Saturday’s game between the Leopards and the Griquas at Olën Park in Potchefstroom will kick-off at 15:00. At the same time, the Boland Cavaliers will take on the Toyota Cheetahs in Wellington.

Leopards – 15 Leandile Mapuko, 14 Sino Tshontyi, 13 André Grobler, 12 Mihlali Mchukana, 11 Clyde Lewis, 10 Charles Williams, 9 Sylvester Hassien, 8 Gcino Mdletshe, 7 Ghudian van Reenen, 6 Uzile Tele, 5 Chris van Heerden, 4 Imaad Phillips, 3 Ig Prinsloo (captain), 2 Jason Alexander, 1 Jason Jansen

Replacements – 16 Liyema Mgwigwi, 17 Tatenda Chayayi, 18 Michael Ryan, 19 Dries du Preez, 20 Arminn Posthumus, 21 Eben Verster, 22 Ryan Smit, 23 Shaun Baxter

Griquas – 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mbomo Zwelendaba, 11 Connor Mahoney, 10 Tylor Sefoor, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Marco de Witt (captain), 6 Carl Els, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Athi Khetani, 3 Cebo Dlamini, 2 Gustav Erlank, 1 Eddie Davids

Replacements – 16 Dandré Delport, 17 Corné Lavagna, 18 Corné Weilbach, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Thabo Ndimande, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Tertius Kruger

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg