WHILE the Bulls might top the Super 14 log with a five-point advantage over the next best team, the Stormers, it's the logjam between teams two and five that is the most interesting.

WHILE the Bulls might top the Super 14 log with a five-point advantage over the next best team, the Stormers, it's the logjam between teams two and five that is the most interesting.

Only one log point separates the Stormers in second position, the Crusaders (3rd), Reds (4th) and Waratahs (5th) and this weekend should sort out the men from the boys.

Friday night (7pm kickoff) sees the Stormers back home at Newlands in Cape Town, up against a Crusaders side coming off the back of a 16-24 loss to the Force.

Week 12 also throws up the interesting clash of the Bulls and Sharks at Loftus on Saturday evening. With the Bulls enforcer Bakkies Botha back in the fray after six months out with an achilles injury, the side now possesses that extra muscle.

The Sharks will be trying for six wins in a row.

For the Lions there's a suspicion that Saturday might just be the day they register their first win of the season.

Taking on the Western Force at Ellis Park Stadium won't be easy, but the Lions have been knocking on the door recently, bar the comprehensive loss on Saturday to the Bulls.

In an Australian derby the Reds clash with the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday while the Waratahs travel to Invercargill, New Zealand for a duel with the Highlanders on Friday, a game they should win easily to stay in the hunt for a semifinal berth.