The Toyota Cheetahs welcome the underdogs tag ahead of Sunday’s big EPCR Challenge Cup derby against the Sharks in Bloemfontein.

The Sharks will head to Bloemfontein on a mission following their below average United Rugby Championship campaign, while they want to build on their 45-5 win over Section Paloise in Durban on the weekend.

The Cheetahs do have the home field advantage, as well as altitude playing their favour, and the heavy field will also play a part.

The Cheetahs assistant coach, Charl Strydom, told OFM Sport they are looking forward to and are ready for the battle up front.

“We know what they want to do,” said Strydom.

“What we've read in the papers, with the mindset of John Plumtree and Dave Williams, who coached here and at Zebre, I think we are going to get a lot of the same challenge that we had this past weekend. It will be a ball-in-hand approach and they are going to ask some big questions of our defence.

“The setpiece is going to be the key battle and they are not going to shy aware from that with the pack of Springbok forwards they have.”

Strydom added that not for one minute do they mind being the underdog ahead of the game against their much-more fancied opponents.

“Up front is going to be the key battle this weekend, but we have been together for about two or three years and the guys are really pressing hard for places in the team. It's a great platform for us to show what we can do.

“I think for the people in the Free State it's always been about the underdogs and living up to the expectation of being the underdog.

“We're really looking forward to the game and it should be good.”

Sunday’s derby at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 15:00.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport