Fresh off winning the Currie Cup a sixth time, the confidence in the Cheetahs camp is at an all-time high, while they are also boosted with the return of several injured players such as the Springbok loose-forward, Oupa Mohoje, and the tighthead prop, Luan de Bruin.

The Cheetahs do have the added advantage of being able to play their first three games of the competition at home.

The mere fact that the Cheetahs only have their tighthead prop, Aranos Coetzee, playing at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan is another positive for the team, however, they are shying the mindset that Glasgow, Ulster and Munster will be sending second-stringers to Bloemfontein.

Although it will most certainly not visitors top sides traveling to the Free State, the interim coach Franco Smith, warns that the European teams would have been preparing for this scenario for a long time.

“I think for the first time we will be competing against teams that will not be fielding their international players. Having said that, these teams have known for a long time that they will be without out their internationals.

“I know what it is like to be in that situation because when I coached at Benetton, I also had to make do without 25 internationals. But, in this competition, you make a plan. You make sure that you get a group of good enough players because you will have internationals that will be on national duty.

“This year is a special year for all of these clubs. Firstly, they had to invest in other international players. Secondly, after the World Cup, those international players will have to be well managed because they will be going straight into other European competitions, and there will be a lot of emphasis on those tournaments.

“Thirdly, they will also be competing in the Six Nations next year, so all of the above has been taken into account.

“Not for one second do I believe that Glasgow will be sending a less competitive side to play against us.

“These clubs have been saving for four years and have invested well in contracting the right players in World Cup year.

“Furthermore, these players and the youngsters that have been brought in will want to prove that they are the future of their various clubs.

“Their attitude won’t be one of playing to stand in, it will be one of playing to get a better contract. This will make them very dangerous because they have nothing to lose.”

Friday evenings’ PRO14 game between the Cheetahs and the Glasgow Warriors at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 19:05.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport