the top of the try-scoring list but on the bench this week – but they must demand more from a high-profile backline. Willie Ripia has to step up and exert more control but needs the forwards to win some decent ball, and here pressure goes on the tight five. If the big men can’t foot it with the home pack, they're in for a very long afternoon; look for Jeremy Thrush and Neemia Tialata as barometers of the Hurricanes performance. If they're prominent, especially at set piece, the visitors are travelling well; if they're being dominated, the Bulls are on the way to another win.
WE THINK: Any result other than a big Bulls victory would be a major shock, and we're not expecting a jolt this week. The Bulls are simply too good at the moment and will find enough to post another score around 50 unless things go horribly wrong, a mark that would necessarily mean another bonus point as well.
TEAMS:
Bulls: 1.Gurthro Steenkamp, 2.Gary Botha, 3.Werner Kruger, 4.Danie Rossouw, 5.Victor Matfield (captain), 6.Deon Stegmann, 7.Dewald Potgieter, 8.Pierre Spies, 9.Fourie du Preez, 10.Morne Steyn, 11.Francois Hougaard, 12.Wynand Olivier, 13. Stephen Dippenaar, 14.Gerhard van der Heever, 15.Zane Kirchner.
Reserves: 16.Bandise Maku, 17.Bees Roux or Rossouw de Klerk, 18.Flip van der Merwe, 19.Derrick Kuun, 20. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 21.Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 22. Pedrie Wannenburg.
Hurricanes: 1.John Schwalger, 2.Andrew Hore (capt), 3.Neemia Tialata, 4.Jeremy Thrush, 5.Michael Paterson, 6.Victor Vito, 7.Karl Lowe, 8.Rodney So'oialo, 9.Tyson Keats, 10.Willie Ripia, 11.Alipati Leiua, 12.Ma'a Nonu, 13.Conrad Smith, 14.Tamati Ellison, 15.Andre Taylor.
Replacements: 16.Dane Coles, 17.Jacob Ellison, 18.Bryn Evans, 19.Nick Crosswell, 20.Piri Weepu, 21.Aaron Cruden, 22.David Smith.
REFEREE: Nathan Pearce (Australia)