The pressure on the South African United Rugby Championship franchises will strike a new level this weekend as the competition hits the fourth-last pool round and the race for playoff spots moves up a few notches.
Lions eighthman Francke Horn was upbeat about the future of the franchise despite the negative media over the last week.
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen says his players are buzzing ahead of their first United Rugby Championship match on South African soil in six weeks.
Sharks flyhalf Cruwin Bosach is under no illusions as to the importance of getting a win over the Lions in their United Rugby Championship clash on Saturday.
Jordan Hendrikse kicked 20 points as the Emirates Lions secured their place in the EPCR Challenge Cup playoffs with a 30-25 victory over the Dragons on Sunday
The Lions suffered a number of injury setbacks during their 37-10 loss at the hands of the Sharks on Friday.