It’s one of the toughest questions I’ve had to answer all season. 

‘Can Western Province win the Currie Cup this year?’

The answer is - I simply don’t know.  Working as a rugby journalist many people you meet along the way expect you to be the definitive expert on the matter.  For doctors or accountants it’s entirely conceivable that you have a better understanding of your subject than the layman.  Everybody that watches rugby in this country, however, is already an expert.  And knowledgeable ones too!

Generally a good understanding of the game combined with some Naas Botha-esque fench sitting gets me through even the most gruelling braai questioning and this season has been pretty good to me thus far.  No, I don’t think the Stormers will make the semi-finals.  The Bulls look a great bet to clinch the Super 14.  The Springboks are too strong for the Lions.  The Boks should win the Tri-Nations, but it’s hard to see them winning all three games overseas.

It was all going so well - until now.  Now I’m a bit lost.

The question of just how good this Western Province side is and whether they’ll be able to go on and win has as much to do with their own progress and form as it does with the strength of the Sharks and the Blue Bulls.  Western Province have done exceptionally to already have already qualified for the semi-finals.  However, they sit below the Sharks on the log.  A Sharks side that has played the entire campaign without their Springboks.

And let’s not even get started on the Blue Bulls and what they are bringing to the tail end of the competition!

Province have a young squad brimming with talent and swagger.  A well balanced side with the hunger to prove themselves.  An organised coaching staff is putting the right men out to do the job and giving them the plan to go and do it. 

Unfortunately for them they are now going to run up against experience and class. The two things you can’t really buy in Rugby.  The Bulls and the Sharks are going to gain some fearless players who don’t believe that they can lose.  Where the Sharks are getting back Smit, Du Plessis and Pienaar (to name a few) and the Bulls are getting back Matfield and Steyn (amongst others) it’s not quite the same for Province.  They get back a crocked Burger and Bekker and a patently out of form Januarie whilst losing de Villiers to Munster. 

You just have to look at the effect that Chris Jack had on the WP team to understand the value of experience.   And his loss combined with the gains made by the other teams makes me doubt Province’s chances this season.

If you were to ask me right now who think will win I’d have to go for the Sharks.  I know that’s not a very controversial call with them leading the log at the moment, but I fancy them as more of their returning Boks are ready for Currie Cup action.  The Bulls are still waiting for Botha and du Preez to recover and without them I don’t think they quite match up the squad of the Sharks.  If they get up and running and Steyn’s boot keeps ticking - well then who knows what might happen.

Can Province pull off an unlikely surprise?  Can the Sharks win it back to back?  Or will the Bulls get Botha and du Preez back into action and regain their Super 14 supremacy?

I can’t tell - but I can tell you it’s going to make for some great viewing.

Let me know your expert views!