Facing the Irish giants is something of a Catch-22 for the former champions. Whether or not Leinster are reigning title-holders, they are always a tough side to play against, and ideally, you’d want to meet them with momentum already on your side. On the flip side, however, testing yourself against a team of Leinster’s calibre in round one is also a great yardstick of progress.

The Stormers will head into the fixture with several injuries, while star players such as Manie Libbok, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse are unavailable due to Springbok duty in the Rugby Championship.

Leon Lyons. Photo: Morgan Piek

Centre Ruhan Nel will lead the team in the absence of regular skipper Salmaan Moerat, who is sidelined with injury. Nel brings a wealth of experience to the captaincy as the Stormers look to start their campaign on the right note.

Coach John Dobson told OFM Sport that while the clash will be a stern test, it’s exactly the kind of challenge he prefers early in the season. However, he admitted that an opening defeat at home could have big consequences going forward.

“We went to the Aviva late in the competition this year – I think it was March – and we played really poorly,” Dobson explained.

“Once they’ve got momentum and their squad fully managed, with all their British & Irish Lions back, you don’t want to face them. Ideally, we’d prefer to meet them later in the season when they’re juggling European rugby and leaving some players at home, but that’s the cheap answer,” Dobson added.

“But right now it’s almost all-or-nothing – red or black. If we get it right and beat them at home early, it puts us in a really strong position. Lose it, and we’ve lost a home game in round one, and that’s dark.

“It’s very much a high-risk, high-reward kind of game for us.”

Gurswin Wehr. Photo: Morgan Piek

Meanwhile, Dobson confirmed that two Currie Cup-winning Suzuki Griquas stars, Gurswin Wehr and Dylan Maart, are already training with the squad as wing cover. Exciting young scrumhalf Caleb Abrahams is also set to link up with the team shortly.

“Western Province and the Stormers have a formal collaboration agreement with Griquas to help develop players and manage game time. Some of our youngsters who don’t get URC minutes go up there for matches, and in return, we get some of their players down here,” Dobson said.

“Over the past season, Connor Evans, Sazi Sandi, and Corné Weilbach have gone to Griquas for SA Cup game time, while Leon Lyons came down to us last year. Now that their season is over, a few of their players have joined us – Dylan Maart and Gurswin Wehr are training with us now, and Caleb Abrahams arrives next week.

Dylan Maart. Photo: Morgan Piek

“It’s not a formal loan system, but more of a partnership that benefits both unions.”

Lyons has, however, now left the Griquas to join the Stormers on a more long-term 2-year contract.

Friday night’s URC opener between the Stormers and Leinster at Cape Town Stadium kicks off at 19:00.

Stormers - 15 Wandisile Simelane, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo
Replacements - 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Olly Reid, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Clinton Swart

Leinster - 15 Jimmy O'Brien, 14 Tommy O'Brien, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Ciarán Frawley, 11 Jordan Larmour, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9Luke McGrath (captain), 8 James Culhane, 7 Scott Penny, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Brian Deeny, 4 Diarmuid Mangan, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle

Replacements - 16 John McKee, 17 Paddy McCarthy, 18 Andrew Sparrow, 19 Max Deegan, 20 Will Connors, 21 Fintan Gunne, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Hugh Cooney

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cvs