Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais says his team is confident and excited ahead of the Currie Cup final against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday. Marais admits that last week he had been very nervous ahead of their semifinal against Western Province but with only Bandise Maku the only player in his team to have played in a Currie Cup final before, there is an air of expectancy amongst his players as they will play an unbeaten Cheetahs side in front of a capacity crowd in Bloemfontein. Marais says losing SA “A” lock RG Snyman to injury is a big blow to the side but that they have been fortunate to have fully utilized the squad system this season and will rely on the talents of Jason Jenkins who will start at number four. Marais believes he made the right decision not to wait on Snyman to recover and instead back the other players in the squad. The other change to the Bulls team comes on the bench where Piet van Zyl takes over as scrumhalf cover from last week’s winning try hero Ivan van Zyl. Free State Cheetahs captain Francois Venter believes they have done all that is to be done in their preparation for Saturday’s Currie Cup final and that the hype around the City of Roses, Bloemfontein, has increased their anticipation to get on the field on Saturday. The Cheetahs have been the best attacking and defensive side in the competition but Cheetahs coach Franco Smith says that defence will win them the final. Smith says they will be facing their toughest threat this season with the Bulls heavy ball carriers and he wants his team to ensure that they stand firm in their defence.