The Old Mutual International Men’s Premiership goes to another level this Saturday, with the competition’s heavyweights on display in the Grand Championship Semi-finals.

League champions Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers host a bruised and battered Kowloon at King’s Park at 6.30pm, while Societe Generale Valley and Natixis HKFC clash at Football Club at 6.00pm.

Kowloon are sweating on the fitness of back rower James Sawyer and will generally be a bit stiff and sore after their epic extra-time draw with Bloomberg HK Scottish.

Tigers, on the other hand, are as fresh as can be after two weeks off and will enter the clash close to full strength, with winger Salom Yiu Kam-shing the only confirmed player out after dislocating his finger.

Scrum half Jason Jeyam is racing the clock to be fit, while fellow nine Cado Lee Ka-to could also be available after returning from the Japan Top League.

“You can look at it in two ways,” Tigers coach Sam Hocking said about the sides' contrasting preparations.

“My boys haven’t played for two weeks now so while we might be a little bit fresher there is probably a little bit of rustiness there as well.”

Hocking was keeping a close eye on the Kowloon, Scottish clash and is wary of what Kowloon bring to the table.

“They have got threats in the backline especially, [centres] Lewis Warner and Ben Madgwick played particularly well and with Ed Styles back at full back it changes the picture for them a fair bit. They’ve come through a game and they performed really well.”

After a superb season that saw Tigers lose only four matches to finish a game clear on top of the table, Hocking knows his side have what it takes to progress to the grand championship decider.

“Our nine and ten have been playing particularly well all year so it is about how they control the game” he said.

“More than anything, not letting Kowloon dictate the game and playing the game the way we want to play is the key.”

Valley had a relatively convincing win over Herbert Smith Freehills HKCC, (although the Cricketers put up a much better fight than they have at times this season), and will be keen to avenge a 22-10 loss to HKFC in the final minor round.

It was that result that saw HKFC leapfrog Valley into second spot and earn the week off and it is a rejuvenated Football Club that steps out on the weekend.

Among a lengthy list of huge inclusions are captain Mitch Andrews, dynamic centre Ben Axten-Burrett, fly half Nate de Thierry and veteran Jamie Hood.

"Mitch Andrews has been our captain and our leader up front all year, Ben Axten-Burrett is one of our better players,” coach Cameron McIntosh said.

“At the end of the day we have been playing and training as a squad all year and it’s pretty even across the board.

“It’s really good to have competition for every position, players have to compete amongst themselves to earn their spot to play in a semi-final, which makes training a hell of a lot more competitive.”

Despite the strengthening of their side and the last-start win, McIntosh is taking nothing for granted against a Valley side that grow a leg come play-offs.

“They’re extremely experienced at this time of year, it’s what they do best,” McIntosh said.

“For us, it’s just making sure we can slow down their offloads and, most importantly, play the game at our pace."