The DHL Stormers have already locked in home-ground advantage for the quarter-finals. Second-placed DHL Stormers, currently on 59 points, one behind log-leaders the Glasgow Warriors, will line up against the seventh-placed Cardiff in the Welsh capital, where the Capetonians have never won.
While the DHL Stormers are assured of a home quarter-final regardless of their result this weekend, securing the highest log positions possible with an eye on the first playoff round will be a strong driving force for the Gauteng sides, in a round which will see heartbreak for one of the sides between fifth and ninth-place on the standings who are only separated by four log points.
The DHL Stormers will give everything they have at Cardiff Arms Park, especially given the high stakes with Cardiff playing for survival in the competition to hold off the strong challenge posed by the Fidelity Securedrive Lions, Ulster, and Connacht.
On paper, the Capetonians will enter the match as favourites with a superior attack and defence, while they will also draw inspiration from their dramatic draw against Ulster away last week.
But the DHL Stormers will certainly not underestimate the threat posed by Cardiff, who have suffered only one defeat at home in the tournament to date, and who will have a passionate home crowd behind them. The Welsh team’s desperation will be fuelled by the fact that a defeat could see their quarter-final hopes squashed, which sets the scene for a captivating encounter.
Cardiff’s head coach, Corniel van Zyl, has made five changes to the side that lost to league leaders Glasgow Warriors last weekend.
In the front row, Van Zyl has rotated his props with Danny Southworth and Javan Sebastian starting, and Rhys Barratt and Keiron Assiratti moving to the bench.
With Josh McNally unavailable due to RAF duty, George Nott comes back into the number four jersey, partnering Rory Thornton.
In the backs, there are two further changes with Ioan Lloyd handed the fly-half jersey after Callum Sheedy suffered a hamstring injury in the final moments at Scotstoun.
Rory Jennings also returns to partner Ben Thomas in the centre after Josh Adams was ruled out.
Van Zyl has stuck with a five-three split on the bench with Evan Lloyd again covering the back row. Ellis Bevan and Stef Emanuel, who return for their first senior involvement since January, provide the back-line cover with Halfpenny.
Tighthead prop Neethling Fouché takes over the captaincy with Deon Fourie sidelined with a knee injury and Ruhan Nel still recovering from a calf injury.
There are just two changes to the forward pack, with Fouché starting in the front row and Paul de Villiers in at openside flank in place of Fourie.
Salmaan Moerat makes his return from injury from a replacements bench that also features hooker JJ Kotzé and loose forward Marcel Theunissen this week.
In the backline, there is an all-new midfield of Jonathan Roche and Wandisile Simelane, as Damian Willemse moves to fullback and Suleiman Hartzenberg comes in on the right wing.
Teams
Cardiff Rugby: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Jacob Beetham, 13 Ben Thomas, 12 Rory Jennings, 11 Tom Bowen, 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Taine Basham, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 James Botham, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 George Nott, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Liam Belcher, 1 Danny Southworth. Replacements: 16 Daf Hughes, 17 Rhys Barratt, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Alun Lawrence, 20 Evan Lloyd, 21 Ellis Bevan, 22 Stef Emanuel, 23 Leigh Halfpenny.
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché (c), 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Keke Morabe, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Jurie Matthee.