The Cheetahs will spend the night in Johannesburg before boarding a flight to Europe.

On Monday the Cheetahs confirmed their 25-man squad for the last 16 match, but they are without the services of the two-time World Cup winner, Frans Steyn, as well as the hard-grafting loose-forward, Friedle Olivier. Steyn injured his knee against he Bulls, while Olivier sprained his ankle against the Griffons.

The good news for the Cheetahs is that Gideon van der Merwe is fit and ready for his first taste of European rugby, while the seasoned scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar will also board the flight.

The Cheetahs are no doubt going into the game as the overwhelming underdogs against the team valued at approximately R700 million.  That is nearly 25-times the value of the Bloemfontein-based outfit. 

While Toulon may be without the Springbok Cheslin Kolbe, they still have 21 internationals in their squad.

The Cheetahs coach, Hawies Fourie, told OFM Sport that a win will be the biggest upset in world rugby.

“I told the players that is a big opportunity for them, but it is also a big responsibility on us,” said Fourie after their final training session in Bloemfontein.

“We progressed to the round of 16, which was our aim when we started the European Challenge Cup.

“Now we are there and we are not satisfied with just that. We want to go one further and we all know it's going to be really difficult.

“They are a quality team with a lot of depth, but we are better prepared than we were in December and January.”

The Cheetahs will be arriving in Toulon at 11:00 on Wednesday morning, while Saturday’s game at Stade Mayol kicks off at 13:30.

Cheetahs touring squad - Rynier Bernardo, Schalk Ferreira, Munier Hartzenberg, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Cohen Jasper, Daniel Kasende, Rewan Kruger, Daniel Maartens, Tapiwa Mafura, Jeandré Rudolph, Victor Sekekete, Alulutho Tshakweni, Marnus van der Merwe, Gideon van der Merwe, Hencus van Wyk, Mzwanele Zito, Chucky van der Westhuizen, Robert Ebersohn, Reinhardt Fortuin, Ruan Pienaar, David Brits, Oupa Mohoje, Mox Mxoli, Sibabalo Qoma, Beertjie van Vuuren.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport