The DHL Stormers will line up against the Scarlets Rugby in Llanelli in the only match on Friday at Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli at 20:45 (SA Time).
The Cape outfit will go into the match with confidence following a comprehensive 35-00 victory against Leinster and a 26-10 win against the Ospreys at home, and with the Scarlets at the foot of the standings with one win to date following the postponement of their match against Connacht last week, they will back themselves to try to repeat their success so far overseas.
They will also draw inspiration from their impressive attack and defence so far in the tournament, with the team having scored 61 points, the second highest among all teams, and conceding only 10, which is the best in the tournament.
Springbok hooker Marnus van der Merwe returns to the Scarlets starting XV. Marnus is named in a Scarlets side showing two personnel changes from the line-up named for the postponed match against Connacht last weekend.
With Jake Ball picking up a head knock in training, the lock is going through the return-to-play protocols, so Tristan Davies starts in the second row alongside Max Douglas. Former Scarlet Steve Cummins has arrived as loan cover from the Dragons and is named on the bench.
The back division is unchanged, with centre Johnny Williams set to lead the side for the first time.
Blair Murray, Ellis Mee and Tom Rogers make up an all-international back three, with Williams linking up with Joe Roberts in midfield. Joe Hawkins and Gareth Davies are the half-back pairing. Sam Costelow has been passed fit and is named among the replacements.
Up front, Marnus packs down between Alec Hepburn and Henry Thomas. Tristan Davies and Max Dougles combine in the second row. Jarrod Taylor, Dan Davis and Taine Plumtree make up the back row.
Archer Holz, who made his comeback from illness for Carmarthen Quins last week, returns to the match-day 23 as tight-head cover, while back-rower Ben Williams is set for his first appearance of the URC campaign. Osian Williams, who was due to make his URC debut against Connacht, misses out because of an ankle injury picked up in training this week.
Springboks Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will feature for the DHL Stormers for the first time this season.
There are several changes to the team this week. Willemse slots in at fullback, with Wandisile Simelane at outside centre and captain Ruhan Nel shifting to inside centre, alongside flyhalf Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
In the forward pack flanks, Paul de Villiers and Ben-Jason Dixon are back in the starting line-up, while there are first starts this season for lock Ruben van Heerden, hooker JJ Kotzé and props Sazi Sandi and Ali Vermaak.
The replacements bench features experienced flank Deon Fourie and talented scrumhalf Imad Khan, who are both in line to take the field in a DHL Stormers jersey for the first time this season.
Teams:
Scarlets Rugby: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Johnny Williams (c), 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Joe Hawkins, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taine Plumtree, 7 Dan Davis, 6 Jarrod Taylor, 5 Max Douglas, 4 Tristan Davies, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Alec Hepburn. Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Sam O’Connor, 18 Archer Holz, 19 Steve Cummins, 20 Ben Williams, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Sam Costelow, 23 Macs Page.
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Ruhan Nel (c), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 JJ Kotzé, 1 Ali Vermaak. Replacements: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Deon Fourie, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Jurie Matthee.