Reigning URC champions, the DHL Stormers, make a 13,103km trip from Cape Town to Exeter this weekend for a tantalising Heineken Champions Cup quarterfinal clash with the 2020 champions Exeter Chiefs. 

Having each come through a challenging round of sixteen clashes, Saturday's match-up at Sandy Park has all the hallmarks of a classic Heineken Cup battle. 

For long-time rugby fans, this clash has the feel of a dream video game fixture pitching two sides who, until this season, would never have met against each other. 

Reigniting the fire of the competition this season, the addition of the South African sides to the Heineken Champions Cup has been an immense success on several fronts. 

Team News 

Exeter has made one change to the side that pulled off a last-minute draw with Montpellier in the round of sixteen as veteran Olly Woodburn returns to the starting line-up.

On the bench, Scotland veteran Stuart Hogg returns for what could be his final Heineken Champions Cup clash, having announced his intention to retire at season's end. 

For the visitors, head coach John Dobson has made two changes in the pack, with Junior Pokomela replacing Deon Fourie at flanker and Marcel Theunissen starting at number eight ahead of the dynamic Hacjivah Dayimani. 

In the backline, physical centre Ruhan Nel will make his 50^th appearance for the Stormers. The sevens veteran has become a staple in the backline due to his exceptional defensive capabilities and dynamic offloading game. 

Quotes From The Camps 

Exeter Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, said his side needs to build on the fight they showed in their round of sixteen clashes. 

"I said to the lads in the first meeting this week, I'm only going to keep saying the same things to you. I am not going to try and change what I'm asking from you each week. 

"I expect you to work hard, commit to one another, sacrifice a bit for one another and make ourselves hard to beat. 

"We need to be comfortable with last week's performance being a baseline because performances like last week have been the foundation for a lot of our success over the years. 

"Yes, we could easily have lost had we knocked the ball on or whatever, but if you get that baseline, you start to win games." 

Speaking for the Stormers, Dobson said that the significance of the occasion is not lost on his team. 

"This is a huge knock-out match, so we have to give it a full tilt," said Dobson. 

"Exeter have a great record at home, so we know it will take a full effort from all 23 to get the result we need on Saturday. 

Turning his attention to Nel ahead of his 50^th cap, Dobson was effusive in his praise of the centre. 

"Ruhan [Nel] always puts the team first and sets a great example for those around him in the way he approaches the game. We are lucky to have him, and hopefully, the team can make his 50th a memorable one." 

Prediction 

Entering this match as underdogs, the Stormers know only too well what a side like the Chiefs will bring to the match. 

Playing away from home against a crowd that thoroughly gets behind their side brings unique challenges. 

Should they start slowly and allow the Chiefs to build a scoreline, then it could be a long afternoon for Dobson's side.  

Given the Chiefs' ability to constrict teams with immense physicality and a defensive system that forces defenders back infield. The visitors' chief playmakers, Manie Libbok and Damian Willemse, will need to be at their exuberant best whilst having patience not to force moves from unfavourable positions.  

For the hosts, their game has been predicated on a tight, physical game which explodes inside the opposition's 22. They must be at their best in the wide channels to have a chance against this Stormers side. 

Having ripped defences to shreds seemingly at will over the past two seasons, the Stormers have the unique ability to score points in bunches. Not needing multiple phases of build-up, the Cape Townian's pace and explosive power see them go through and around defences in a flash. 

On what looks set to be a dry and sunny day, the Sandy Park turf should hold up quite nicely, which will undoubtedly work in the visitor's favour.  

Whilst there can be no doubting the Chief's pedigree,e having won the competition in 2020, this Stormers team is equally confident in theibig-gameme temperament.  

Thus, with history on the line for the South Africans, their Heineken Champions Cup dream will remain alive for at least another week. Behind the scenes, the team administrators will hold off on booking a flight back to Cape Town as the side will remain in Europe to face either La Rochelle or Saracens in the semi-fin—Stormers by 5.