Western Province coach Allister Coetzee hopes Nizaam Carr will be fit for the Currie Cup final on Saturday.

The flanker left the field after 18 minutes of the semi-final against the Blue Bulls with a hip injury. 

According to the Cape Times, he had an injection to his hip on Saturday night and felt OK afterwards, but whether he plays in the final will depend on how his hip responds to treatment in the coming days.

'The way he's played throughout the season, it would be sad if he can't make the final,' said Coetzee. 'We are all holding thumbs for Nizaam, but if he is not ready, [Sikhumbuzo] Notshe would easily step into his place.'

Either Jurie van Vuuren or Gerbrandt Grobler would then come onto the bench.

In some good news for WP, Cheslin Kolbe will be fit for the final having suffered from cramp against the Bulls, so their only other injury concern is Jaco Taute (ribs), who will be assessed on Monday.

Meanwhile, Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has backed Western Province to lift the trophy on Saturday.

'If I were a betting man, I wouldn't go against WP winning the final,' he said after his team's 31-23 loss in the Newlands semi-final. 'They have been the form team all season and have been very strong at home.

'The Lions have been giant-killers throughout the tournament, but WP have the all-round game to win it. They're excellent in broken play, they have a good kicking game and their pack of forwards have been performing well.'

Photo: Anne Laing/HSM Images