WESTERN Province coach Allister Coetzee will give No8 Nizaam Carr and centre Jaco Taute more time to prove their fitness for Saturday's Currie Cup final against the Golden Lions at Newlands.

Taute missed Province's 31-23 semifinal win over the Blue Bulls due to a rib injury, while Carr suffered a hip pointer injury early in the match and hobbled off the field.

Both would boost the Cape side's chances with Carr one of the in-form players in the squad and a potential pick for the Springboks' end-of-year tour, while Taute has been solid at centre.

Yet, if the pair are unavailable Coetzee at least knows that in Michael van der Spuy and Sikhumbuzo Notshe he has two very good replacements.

Van der Spuy enjoyed one of his best games in a Province shirt against the Bulls, often punching through half-gaps and causing panic in the Bulls defence.

Notshe, who entered the match midway through the first half when Carr limped off, had a superb game. His defence really caught the eye while he was a menace at the breakdown as well.

But Carr has been consistently excellent in a competition shorn of key Springboks, and will give Province vital experience in the final as well. Notshe is callow and, although it's unlikely, the occasion could unnerve him.

"The state of Nemo [Carr] and Jaco is very positive," Coetzee said. "Jaco took contact today [yesterday] and so that is very encouraging.

"Nemo was not in pain today and walked without any apparent discomfort so we'll have another look at him on Tuesday [today].

"Michael and Sikhumbuzo did very well but in a final we want depth in every position."