Directopponents on the rugby field rarely require an incentive to put their best footforward, but Marius Louw and Rohan Janse van Rensburg will each be spurred onby the desire to get one over their former team when the Emirates Lions facethe Cell C Sharks in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Thefirst of two all-South African Vodacom United Rugby Championship clashes this weekend featuresteams desperate to cement a place in the playoff race with just five roundsremaining.

TheCell C Sharks (8th) and Emirates Lions (13th) have a game in hand on all buttwo other teams in the Vodacom URC,and they’ll be counting on their bulldozing inside centres to provide momentum- on both the field and the league table - in Saturday’s derby.

Despitebeing schooled in Pretoria and representing the Vodacom Bulls youth team, theCell C Sharks’ Janse van Rensburg made his name as a Lion, joining the pride in2015 and making his full debut a year later.

Tippingthe scales at a hefty 108kg, Janse van Rensburg formed a successful midfield partnershipwith Lionel Mapoe, a combination that was pivotal in the Emirates Lions successin 2016.

Afirst call-up to the Springbok squad for Janse van Rensburg soon followed and,later that year, he earned his one and only Test cap against Wales in Cardiff.

Thecontinued recognition of Damian de Allende and Jan Serfontein’s defensivefortitude blocked Janse van Rensburg’s climb up the Springbok pecking order andafter an initial loan spell with Sale Sharks, he made his move to Manchesterpermanent in 2018.

Whilea move abroad meant that Janse van Rensburg fell off the radar in South Africa,he continued to grow his game in England.

However,the Cell C Sharks’ search for a power centre to partner Lukhanyo Am resulted inJanse van Rensburg’s return to South Africa last year.

Plansto launch the midfield combination have been mostly grounded by Am suffering aknee injury and Janse van Rensburg’s early-season suspension, but they havewreaked havoc whenever paired.

"Iwas definitely intrigued by the Cell C Sharks," Janse van Rensburg said ofhis decision to return to South Africa. "The fact that Eben Etzebethsigned, Siya Kolisi signed and Lukhanyo extended, made me look at the franchiseas one I wanted to be part of. I was very intrigued to see what the Sharkscould offer, especially because of the move to the URC and the extendedopportunity in playing in other competitions in Europe.

"Itis exciting to be part of a squad that is so developed and experienced. Theymake it look easy when you’re playing with them. The amount of knowledgein our backline meetings would make some people’s heads explode.”

The2021 acquisition of Ben Tapuai coupled with Janse van Rensburg’s move to theCell C Sharks last season ate into Louw’s playing time. Up until that point,the Bloemfontein-born player had spent his entire professional career inDurban, representing the union from under-19 level and making his seniorprofessional debut in 2017.

Havingcome through the schools ranks as an openside flanker, Louw was 19 when heswitched to centre and he has since emerged as a brutal breakdown threat in thebackline.

Butwith dwindling opportunities to start, Louw answered the call to join theEmirates Lions who were looking for a replacement for former captain BurgerOdendaal.

“Cominghere I knew the Lions play an exciting brand of rugby and I could see myselffitting in nicely. I'm super excited about what lies ahead."

The27-year-old has hit the ground running in his first season in Johannesburg,replacing Odendaal in the No 12 jersey and taking over the captaincy in theabsence of injured lock Reinhard Nothnagel.

Partneredwith Henco van Wyk, who many consider to be a long-term contender for theSpringbok No 13 jersey, Louw has offered a youthful Emirates Lions sidedirection and leadership.

Thecentre showdown is sure to be decisive in determining control of the gainline,and Louw and Janse van Rensburg will thunder into contact with the tenacity oftwo men determined to prove they are the most indispensable.