Ulster return to URC action, following a break in the schedule for the conclusion of the Guinness Six Nations.
Ulster go into the fixture confident, after Round 11's exciting bonus-point victory over Dragons at Kingspan Stadium.
Interim Head Coach, Richie Murphy, will take charge of the team for the tour after his appointment last month.
The province sit in fifth position in the URC table, on 34 points after 11 Rounds played.
The Sharks have experienced a more difficult campaign, as they find themselves sitting at the bottom of the table in 16th place, with ten points.
How it stands
Match details
🏟️ Hollywoodbets Kings Park
📅 Saturday 23 March
🕰️ 1pm UK time
🏆 BKT United Rugby Championship, Round 12
📺 ViaPlay, URC.tv
📻 BBC Sport NI
Last time out
Ulster's last trip to Durban ended in a thrilling 24-31 victory to the away side. In tough, hot conditions at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, two tries from Tom Stewart, Stewart Moore and Harry Sheridan, with conversions from John Cooney were enough for Ulster to head back to Belfast with the victory.
The match will be remembered for Stewart Moore capitalising on a loose ball at a ruck to dot down for a try.
You can read back on the full match report from the match here.
Players to watch
Bongi Mbonambi - With 65 test caps under the belt and having attained the captaincy of South Af-rica recently, hooker, Bongi Mbonambi is not only a key member of the Springbok squad, but also a central cog in the Hollywoodbets Sharks front-row unit. Mbonambi started out at the Bulls, but transferred to WP in 2015, where he represented the Stormers on 74 occasions, before linking up with the Hollywoodbets Sharks in 2021. His test debut was against Ireland in 2016, has already recorded 13 tries.
Jaden Hendrikse - Within the space of little over a year, Jaden Hendrikse has not only established himself as a regular in the Cell C Sharks’ No 9 jumper, but has also emerged as a standout performer for the Springboks. Another proud product of Glenwood High School, Hendrikse, at the time of writing, had already represented South Africa in 10 tests, and played a starring role, which included a fabulous solo try, in the scintillating Rugby Championship win (36-20) against Argentina in Buenos Aires this year. Hendrikse was always destined to shine on the international stage, having represented SA Schools and the Junior Springboks, and being named a Breakthrough Player of the Tournament at the 2019 World Rugby U20 Championship.
Curwin Bosch - Toulouse might have triumphed in the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final at the Stade Ernest Wallon in 2023, yet Curwin Bosch still managed to silence not only his critics but also the capacity and French crowd of 20 000 in the first half. The mercurial Hollywoodbets Sharks’ pivot cut loose from deep inside his own half to simply tear the Toulouse defence to shreds for his halfback partner, Grant Williams, to score a memorable try. With this instinctive flair to create havoc with opposition defenses, as well as the ability to bang over mammoth goals, Bosch is a crucial member of the Sharks side.
Eben Etzebeth - This giant needs no introduction as the enforcer of Springbok rugby, and is one of the fiercest competitors in world rugby. The lock was crucial to South Africa winning the 2023 World Cup, with a vital try against France in the Quarter Finals.
For a player of 2.03m, Etzebeth boasts an impressive skillset to compliment his abrasive attitude towards the game.
Did you know?
- Hollywoodbets Sharks have slipped to five successive Vodacom United Rugby Championship defeats since their 69-14 win at home to Dragons on 25 November.
- Sharks have beaten Irish provinces just twice in the championship, winning at home to Leinster and Connacht in April 2022. The Sharks also beat Munster in the Champions Cup in Durban in April 2023.
- Ulster’s only defeat in their last four BKT United Rugby Championship matches was 17-19 at Ospreys in Round 10.
- Ulster have won their last six matches against South African opponents since their 15-17 reversal to the Stormers in the 2022 semifinal.
- The two sides have met just twice before with Ulster victorious on both occasions.