Stormers flyhalf Damian Willemse and his Lions counterpart Elton Jantjies will both be looking to maak ogies for new Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber on Valentine’s weekend.
The venue for their date with destiny is Ellis Park tomorrow at 3.05pm and up for grabs is the early inside lane for the Springbok No.10 jersey this year.
With the national selectors giving preference to players plying their trade in South Africa and with regular Bok pivot Handre Pollard having moved to Montpellier, there is a possible opening at flyhalf.
In steps Willemse and Jantjies, who were both Pollard’s deputies at last year’s World Cup.
The two couldn’t have been any different in terms of where they are in their careers, but the hunger for the Bok 10 jersey will be the same.
In the Cape camp, you have Willemse - described by his Stormers coach John Dobson as the flyhalf with the most potential in South African rugby.
For all his talent, the 21-year-old has come under scrutiny for his goal-kicking and game management.
Having slotted home only four kicks in nine attempts from the tee this term, Willemse will be out to prove he is a sure thing with the boot.
His goal kicking isn’t the only part of his game that will be watched carefully by Nienaber and his selectors.
Willemse only moved back to pivot this year after a switch to fullback in the national camp, meaning he has to get used to being the first receiver again.
It’s exactly in that area where the more experienced 29-year-old Jantjies will look to one-up his opponent.
Captain of the Lions, Jantjies has matured into a tactician of note and will use all his experience in this department to rattle Willemse.
In terms of goal-kicking, Jantjies missed his first two attempts against the Reds at Ellis Park last weekend, before converting three - he needs to improve that aspect too.
Both teams have also stressed the importance of firing on attack this week and it will be up to their flyhalves to make the right decisions in order for their teammates to dominate.
Then it’s up to the likes of Tyrone Green (Lions) and Seabelo Senatla (Stormers) to spread their wings out wide.