Clermont Auvergne will try to make the most of their home-ground advantage when they host the Toyota Cheetahs at Stade Marcel-Michelin on Saturday at 13:30 (SA Time) as they go in search of their third successive win in the competition.
The French club will have noticed that the Free Staters toppled the Hollywoodbets Sharks and registered a convincing 33-15 victory against Zebre Parma in Italy in the pool stages. Adding to this, they also won their first two SA Cup matches in the last two weeks by big margins.
With Clermont currently ranked fourth last on the Top 14 log, where they have won only eight of their 20 matches so far this season, and both teams entering the match with the mindset that they will have nothing to lose, it should be an entertaining encounter.
The Toyota Cheetahs secured a spot in the knockout stage despite narrowly missing out on home advantage. They finished third in Pool 1, earning a place alongside other qualified teams. Key victories include a home win against the Hollywoodbets Sharks.
Izak van der Westhuizen recently took over the reins from Hawie Fourie as head coach of the Toyota Cheetahs.
Coach Izak van der Westhuizen: "I think the guys know what is expected of them and the conditions. Playing is always difficult because you never know which side will arrive for the game. I think it helps a lot to have that experience within the group."
Captain Victor Sekekete: "From the boy's side, we are more eager, especially because we've been there, and last year's defeat to Toulon left a bitter taste in our mouths."
"There is more hunger, and what is important to us is the game management and to realize that when you're playing over there, anything can happen on the day. The most important thing is to ensure we control what we can control."
Louis van der Westhuizen will run onto the field for his 50th cap for the Toyota Cheetahs.
Teams:
Clermont Auvergne: 15 Alex Newsome, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Léon Darricarrere, 12 Julien Heriteau, 11 Joris Jurand, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Sebastien Bezy (c), 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Alexandre Fischer, 6 Peceli Yato, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Etienne Fourcade, 1 Giorgi Beria. Replacements: 16 Yohan Beheregaray, 17 Daniel Bibi Biziwu, 18 Giorgi Dzmanashvili, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, 20 Lucas Dessaigne, 21 Baptiste Jauneau, 22 Theo Giral, 23 Alivereti Raka
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Litha Nkula, 10 George Lourens, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Jeandré Rudolph, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Schalk Ferreira. Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Mzwandele Zito, 20 Gideon van der Merwe, 21 Siba Qoma, 22 Andell Loubser, 23 Rewan Kruger.
