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The Sharks have adopted a siege mentality ahead of Sunday morning's Super 14 semi-final against the Blues in Durban and South African rugby writer Mike Greenaway believes it could count against them.
The Sharks squad have gone to ground this week, shying away from the hype around the resurgence of South African rugby they and the Bulls helped create by finishing number one and two in the competition.
However, Natal Mercury's chief rugby writer Greenaway said the move could backfire.
He said they seem very tense and the occasion might get to them.
The Sharks also have some injury concerns and coach Dick Muir has bracketed second-five Brad Barritt and prop Deon Carstens with Adrian Jacobs and Tendai Mtawarira.
He will not finalise his line-up until just before kick-off.
Muir accepted that finishing top of the of the table and the resultant home ground advantage meant they were saddled with expectation from the South African rugby fraternity.
However, he said the Blues weren't exempt from the pressure to perform.
"There is also a certain expectation in New Zealand where the Blues have led the tournament for probably 70 per cent of the time," he said.
"They were the in-form side this year, and the pressure is on to see whether they can continue that way or not. There is pressure on both sides, they would want to get one back on us, with us having beaten them, so it is going to be a wonderful game of rugby."
- NZ HERALD STAFF, NEWSTALK ZB, NZPA
