Dubai Exiles and Xodus Wasps gear up for make-or-break clash

Barny 13:37 02/10/2014
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  • It may only be the second game of the season but the stakes are so high in the Sport360° UAE Premiership that this weekend’s fixtures could be make or break.

    Win today and the Dubai Exiles will be on the cusp of qualification for the Gulf Top Six, while if the Xodus Wasps lose they would be on the brink of being exi-led from the region’s elite league.

    Exiles held on for a nervy 25-23 opening day win over Abu Dhabi Saracens, while Wasps put up a spirited fight before going down 33-5 at home to Jebel Ali Dragons.

    Wasps chairman Martin Southern said: “If Exiles win then they are likely to be in the Gulf Top Six, but if we lose that could be our season over. Those are the stakes after just one game of the season.”

    Southern admitted he is looking forward to seeing great friend, Exiles head coach Jan Venter, although he joked that their friendship will be on ice for 80 minutes.

    “I’m a good friend of Jan’s, but we’ve both got our own teams to look after. We expect victory, nothing less.”

    Wasps have an almost full strength squad to choose from, but winger Mike White, forced off with a sprained ankle after just 20 minutes as they went down against the Dragons, is out for a few weeks.

    Exiles chairman Mike Wolff, meanwhile, is expecting a ‘humdinger’ of a match.

    He said: “The Premiership is brutal; you have to start the season with a bang because you haven’t got a tremendous amount of time to get better if you don’t.”

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