The Stormers are set for a significant clash as they take on the Lions at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday (3.45pm kick-off), with lock Salmaan Moerat poised to earn his 50th cap in this do-or-die derby.
That milestone comes at a crucial point in the United Rugby Championship, where the stakes are higher than ever in a South African derby that promises to be an electrifying encounter.
The Lions are still the only local side to beat the inaugural URC champions in Cape Town
World Cup winner Deon Fourie makes his highly anticipated return from injury, and he was named as the captain when director of rugby John Dobson announced his side on Friday for this pivotal match.
Fourie’s leadership will be essential as the Stormers look to assert their dominance in front of a passionate home crowd.
The Stormers are buoyed by the return of several key players, including Springboks Manie Libbok, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Ben-Jason Dixon, all of whom have shaken off recent concussions.
To bolster their front row, Springbok tighthead prop Frans Malherbe also returns, adding depth and experience to the line-up.
The reinstatement of five Boks is a timely boost, according to Dobson, who remarked on the positive energy within the squad.
“We welcome back some real quality into our team this week, and there has been a sense of focused determination within the group,” Dobson said on Friday.
“These festive derbies are big occasions, and we will need to step up against a very competitive Lions team.”
As the Stormers prepare for only their second outing of the season at the Cape Town Stadium this season, supporters are eager for a solid display of skill and teamwork they’ve dished up previously.
Dobson expressed the importance of delivering a performance worthy of their loyal fans, who have waited patiently for more home action.
The Lions have proven to be a formidable opponent, and the Stormers understand the need to execute their game-plan effectively to secure a crucial victory.
In another milestone that will be celebrated in Cape Town, Lions captain Marius Louw will run out for his 50th cap for the Johannesburg side.
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has selected an exciting back-three of fullback Tapiwa Mafura and wings Edwill van der Merwe and Rabz Maxwane, who will look to exploit the predicted sunny conditions in the Mother City when their side go on the attack.
The Lions front row of hooker PJ Botha and props Juan Schoeman and Asenathi Nthlabakanye will have to front up to the Bok duo of Malherbe and hooker Joseph Dweba, and loosehead Ali Vermaak.
But, the absence of Quan Horn, Henco van Wyk, Ruan Venter and Reinhard Nothnagel through injury could have an impact on the visitors’ chances of victory.
Teams For Cape Town
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg 13 Ruhan Nel 12 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 11 Leolin Zas 10 Manie Libbok 9 Herschel Jantjies 8 Marcel Theunissen 7 Ben-Jason Dixon 6 Deon Fourie (captain) 5 JD Schickerling 4 Salmaan Moerat 3 Frans Malherbe 2 Joseph Dweba 1 Ali Vermaak.
Bench: 16 JJ Kotze 17 Brok Harris 18 Neethling Fouché 19 Adré Smith 20 Willie Engelbrecht 21 Paul de Villiers 22 Paul de Wet 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis.
Lions: 15 Tapiwa Mafura 14 Rabz Maxwane 13 Erich Cronjé 12 Marius Louw (captain) 11 Edwill van der Merwe 10 Sam Francis 9 Morné van den Berg 8 Francke Horne 7 WJ Steenkamp 6 Jarod Cairns 5 Ruan Delport 4 Ruben Schoeman 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye 2 PJ Botha 1 Juan Schoeman.
Bench: 16 Franco Marais 17 Morgan Naudé 18 Conraad van Vuuren 19 Darrien Landsberg 20 Izan van der Westhuizen 21 JC Pretorius 22 Sanele Nohamba 23 Manny Rass.