Dewald Potgieter and the Blue Bulls will want to keep their unbeaten record alive this weekend © Getty Images

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Tournaments/Tours Currie Cup

Teams African Leopards | Blue Bulls | Boland Cavaliers | Free State | Golden Lions | Griquas | Natal | South Africa | Western Province

The third round of the 2009 Currie Cup swings in to life this weekend, with the Blue Bulls and Griquas set to put their 100% records on the line.

The action kicks off in Cape Town on Friday, where both Western Province and Free State Cheetahs will be looking to bounce back from disappointing second round losses.

Luke Watson's Province side went down 30-22 to the Blue Bulls last weekend after opening their account with a first round win over Natal Sharks and have made three changes for this weekend.

Frikkie Welsh drops to the bench, allowing former Springbok wing Tonderai Chavhanga a chance to impress in front of the Newlands faithful. He starts outside young centre Juan de Jongh, who gets his first senior start in place of Morgan Newman. In the final change, Francois Louw returns in the back-row alongside Watson and Pieter Louw. Gio Aplon is retained at fullback as Joe Pietersen is yet to recover from the injury he sustained against the Sharks.

The Cheetahs have dropped Springbok wing Jongi Nokwe from their 22 for the game, calling in South Africa Sevens representative Lionel Mapoe after their disappointing loss to the Lions last weekend.

In Durban on Friday, Natal Sharks host the Blue Bulls in a re-run of last season's final. The Bulls are unbeaten thus far and will be in confident moods at Kings Park, while the Sharks registered their opening win against Boland last weekend.

They will have to do without impressive young fly-half Guy Cronje this weekend after the 19-year-old was handed a week-long ban for a dangerous tackle against Boland. Monty Dumond steps in this weekend, while fullback Stefan Terblanche leads an otherwhise unchanged starting XV.

The Bulls have named South Africa U20 international Stefan Watermeyer at inside-centre for the game following Wynand Olivier's call-up to the Springboks squad to face the All Blacks in Bloemfontein. The rest of the side remains unchanged, with Jaco Pretorius providing his experience outside Watermeyer. Derick Kuun leads the side from hooker, with the squad having enlisted former Springbok World Cup-winner Balie Swart to help with their scrummaging in training this week.

On Saturday, the table-topping Griquas host Boland - who have made the surprise move of dropping captain Conrad Burke after an indifferent display against the Sharks. Clemen Lewis comes in at hooker as the Cavaliers aim to become the first side to defeat the Griquas this season.

Also on Saturday, the Golden Lions travel to face the Leopards in Rustenberg. The Lions will be on a high after their sensational comeback against the Cheetahs last weekend, and have named Earl Rose at fly-half alongside impressive scrum-half Janno Vermaak. Herkie Kruger drops to the bench as the Lions face eight former employees in Leopards colours.