Western Province are staring down the barrel of a winless Currie Cup campaign as they head to Bloemfontein this weekend, rooted to the foot of the table with zero log points from their opening three matches.

The Cape side has endured a torrid start, scoring just eight tries while leaking a competition-high 135 points.

With only seven rounds in this year’s shortened tournament, their clash against the Cheetahs on Saturday could already make or break their semi-final hopes

Frans Steyn’s Free Staters are on a six-match winning streak against WP, and are building momentum with back-to-back wins.

By contrast, Labeeb Levy’s charges have dropped four of their last five Currie Cup matches stretching back to last season and will need a major turnaround to avoid the wooden spoon.

Round 4 opens on Friday in Kimberley, where Griquas welcome the winless Sharks XV.

Pieter Bergh’s men have scored a competition-best 18 tries and are on a two-match winning streak, while JP Pietersen’s Durbanites have crossed the line only twice in three outings.

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Saturday’s other fixture sees the Pumas host the Lions in Nelspruit.

Jimmy Stonehouse’s troops bounced back in style from a loss to the Cheetahs by thumping the Vodacom Bulls 41-7, while Mziwakhe Nkosi’s Lions will be desperate to respond after last weekend’s defeat to the Boland Kavaliers.

The Cavaliers will again look to six-try speedster Donavan Don to lead the charge as they look to inflict a second consecutive defeat on Phiwe Nomlomo’s Bulls.

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Boland have already claimed the scalps of the Lions and Cheetahs at home, but will need to tighten their defence against the Jacaranda City outfit, who have conceded the fewest tries in the competition alongside the Lions.

With just one point separating the top six teams, the fight for semi-final spots is already fierce. But for Western Province, the battle is far simpler: find a win, or risk being left behind entirely