CRICKET NWES - The SWD provincial cricket team will have a tough battle when they travel to Pretoria for a clash against Northerns this weekend.

The three-day match will start on Thursday while the limited over match will be contested on Sunday.

In their first three three-day matches, against KwaZulu Natal, Free State and the Central Gauteng Lions respectively, the men from the Southern Cape recorded impressive performances but were outplayed on the last day.

In the one-day competition SWD were victorious against KZN but suffered a one-wicket last ball defeat against Free State and lost badly against the Central Gauteng Lions.

Injuries and exam commitments will have a negative effect on their aspirations for the weekend but Jean du Plessis, who missed five of the six matches due to exams, will be available and will take over the captaincy.

The SWD squad for the weekend are:

Kirwin Christoffels, Yamkela Oliphant, Jean du Plessis (captain), Richardt Frenz, Brendon Louw, Heath Richards, Neil Hornbuckle, Ndumiso Mvelase, Tsepo Ndwandwa, Renaldo Meyer, Bailey Aarons, Bradley de Villiers, Hershell America and Stefan Tait.

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