The Cell C Sharks will have to deliver one of their best performances of the season to topple Leinster when they play at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday at 18:00 (SA Time).
Leinster finished the pool stages as the No 1 team after suffering only one defeat and one draw all season.
The Cell C Sharks, however, will draw massive inspiration from the fact that the Vodacom Bulls defied the odds to beat Leinster in Dublin in the semi-final last season, a feat the Cell C Sharks will be looking to emulate this week.
Unfortunately for the KwaZulu-Natalians, they will be missing the services of a few key national players due to injury, including captain and flanker Siya Kolisi (knee), lock Eben Etzebeth and scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse (both shoulder injuries), which will deny them some invaluable experience in this crucial encounter.
With Leinster listed second in both the attacking and defensive statistics in the series and a confidence-boosting 54-34 victory against the Cell C Sharks to their name in Dublin earlier this season, the South Africans will have to deliver a top-class performance all around to register one of the biggest upsets this season. But with a place in the semi-final at stake, it is a challenge they will relish.
Luke McGrath captains Leinster, as his half-back partner Harry Byrne is set to make his 50th Leinster appearance, from fly-half.
Hugo Keenan starts at full-back, with Jordan Larmour and Dave Kearney named on the wings.
Ciarán Frawley and Charlie Ngatai form the centre partnership for the first time this season, with Byrne and McGrath completing the backline.
Michael Milne and Tadhg Furlong pack down either side of Dan Sheehan in the front row, with Ryan Baird and Jason Jenkins in the heart of the pack.
Max Deegan and Scott Penny come into the back row, with Caelan Doris moving to number eight.
On the bench, there is a welcome return from injury for Joe McCarthy (pictured above), who is in line to feature for the first time since January.
Cell C Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell has had his hand forced in naming a changed line-up following the loss of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and flyhalf Curwin Bosch who sustained injuries in the final pool game against Munster at Hollywoodbets Kings Park a fortnight ago. Lukhanyo Am takes over the captaincy in Kolisi’s absence.
James Venter replaces Kolisi, while Boeta Chamberlain moves from fullback to flyhalf to accommodate the loss of Bosch, with Aphelele Fassi starting at fullback.
In other changes, after a string of impressive performances in the Currie Cup recently, Corne Rahl returns to the side, having made his VURC debut earlier in the season against Connacht, the 20-year old is in for Jeandre Labuschagne who plays off the bench, while Marnus Potgieter replaces Werner Kok on the wing.
With Leinster having clinched the top spot and enjoying home-ground advantage, they come into this game as favourites, which is not something that really bothers Cell C Sharks lock Gerbrandt Grobler.
“No one gives us a chance, and that’s OK, we have a job to do and we believe in it, because if you don’t believe it, you can’t achieve it,” he explained from the team’s base in Dublin. “We have nothing to lose and we’ll be throwing everything into it.”
He is equally philosophical about his team’s underdog status, saying: “What do you do, no-one gives you a chance, your back is against the wall, we’ll be going for it, why not believe? Anything can happen on the day: the bounce of the ball, a decision that goes your way, we’re going out there to give our best and enjoy ourselves.”
Teams:
Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Ciarán Frawley, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Luke McGrath (c), 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Scott Penny, 6 Max Deegan, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Ryan Baird, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Michael Milne Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Cian Healy, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Liam Turner.
Cell C Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Lukhanyo Am (c), 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Henry Chamberlain, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nché. Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Carlü Sadie, 19 Jeandre Labuschagne, 20 Phendulani Buthelezi, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Nevaldo Fluers, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.