If the Hurricanes need any extra motivation against the Sharks they need only look to their assistant coach John Plumtree.
It will be an emotional day on Sunday (NZT) for Plumtree who returns to a ground that he once called home.
For ten years he played for the Sharks at Kings Park in his wife's home town of Durban and for another five he was the head coach of the Natal based Investec Super Rugby team.
"I always thought one day I'd come back to Durban with the Hurricanes and it's finally happening so it's about making sure I keep those emotions in check and never [forget] what my role is for the team and that's what I've done so far," Plumtree said ahead of the Hurricanes second and final match of their South African tour.
"It's been a busy week for me, a lot of friends, a lot of family, a lot of people around and managing that and getting the team ready has kept me pretty busy. Going to the stadium on Saturday is going to be an interesting one for me, but one that I'm really looking forward to as well.
"The Shark Tank holds a lot of special memories for me so visiting the Shark Tank with the Hurricanes couldn't be better. It's the two teams that've have a big impact on my career."
A week after the Hurricanes beat the Lions 50-17, Plumtree and Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd are again asking for their side to collectively come together in defence.
"I basically said to the boys that their defensive effort in the weekend against the Lions wasn't about me, it wasn't about Cory Jane," Plumtree said. "It was about each individual in that team and being prepared to work really hard for each other. That's been the message and they've got to bring that intensity again defensively if we want to have some success over here.
"If we can work and put a lot of pressure on their playmakers: Willie Le Roux, Garth April, Patrick Lambie if he gets off the bench, if we can put them under pressure we can get some reward out of that."
The Hurricanes have made just one change to the side that beat the Lions with fullback James Marshall coming into the starting team at fullback and he said the focus of the squad had been on matching the Sharks physicality.
"They bring a real physical edge and when they get on top of teams then you in for a really long day. They are hard me to tackle, they fall in awkward positions, so we have to get our defence right."
But as big and strong as he expects the Sharks to be it is Le Roux who Marshall expected to provide the biggest threat.
"He's always been one of my favourite players outside of New Zealand. He's got a great skill set and is very dangerous with ball in hand."
The Hurricanes, who have won six matches from nine, play a Sharks team that has just four wins, but could easily have had more.
They did not lose until week five and have been highly competitive against New Zealand teams. They were narrowly beaten by Crusaders in Durban and the Blues in Auckland before knocking over the Highlanders in Dunedin, then falling by just two points to the Chiefs in Dunedin.
The Hurricanes have won just eight matches from 19 against the Sharks with ten losses and a single draw and have found it tough to win in Durban where they have had just two successes from eight attempts.
Last time the sides met was in Wellington last year with the Hurricanes winning the match 32-24.
Teams:
Hurricanes: James Marshall, Cory Jane, Matt Proctor, Vince Aso, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Victor Vito, Ardie Savea, Brad Shields, Michael Fatialofa, Vaea Fifita, Jeff To'omaga-Allen, Dane Coles (c), Reggie Goodes. Reserves: Motu Matu'u, Chris Eves. Ben May, Mark Abbott, Blade Thomson, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ngani Laumape, Jason Woodward.
Sharks: Willie le Roux, JP Pietersen, Paul Jordaan, Andre Esterhuizen, Lwazi Mvovo, Garth April, Michael Claassens, Daniel du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez, Keegan Daniel, Stephan Lewies, Etienne Oosthuizen, Lourens Adriaanse, Franco Marais, Tendai Mtawarira (c). Reserves: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dale Chadwick, Thomas du Toit, Hyron Andrews, Jean Deysel, Stefan Ungerer, Pat Lambie, Odwa Ndungane.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (S.A)