Super 14 weekend preview

Waratahs v Brumbies

Australia's top two teams go head to head on Sunday in the highlight of the 10th round of Super 14 matches over the Easter weekend.

The Waratahs sit second in the standings, one place above the Brumbies who have a game in hand on their arch-rivals.

The Brumbies enjoyed a crushing 53-20 win over the Cheetahs last week while the Waratahs lost narrowly to the table-topping Crusaders.

With Australia coach John Connolly casting his eye over a host of Wallabies the match is sure to be intense.

The Waratahs will hope first five-eighths Mat Rogers is fit to line up against experienced Brumbies' halfbacks George Gregan and Stephen Larkham.

Crusaders v Cheethas

The Crusaders look to continue their 100 per cent record with a home game against the Cheetahs on Saturday and their captain Richie McCaw is seeking improvement.

"If we're realistic about our whole season, we haven't really put together a whole performance," he said.

"We've done good in places and done enough to win, but we haven't quite put together a full performance which is something we've got to keep aiming for."

Other matches

Fourth faces sixth as the Hurricanes play the Highlanders in an all-New Zealand clash in Dunedin on Sunday, while the Blues seek to inflict a ninth successive defeat on the visiting Force on Friday.

Stormers coach Kobus van der Merwe reacted to his side's 32-15 loss to the Blues last weekend by making six changes for Saturday's trip to the Chiefs.

Captain De Wet Barry has been dropped to the bench and replaced as skipper by hooker Schalk Brits. Springbok Joe van Niekerk comes in for Adri Badenhorst at number eight and Jongi Nokwe is preferred to Marius Joubert on the wing.

The Bulls, South Africa's best-placed side at fifth in the standings, travel to Brisbane on Saturday to face the Reds, who should be boosted by the return from injury of Wallaby fullback Chris Latham.

Latham's recall means Australia's Drew Mitchell can revert to his favourite position on the wing, with Caleb Brown dropping to the bench.

The Cats host fellow South Africans the Sharks on Saturday in a match between two struggling sides in Johannesburg.

- REUTERS