Stormers coach Robbie Fleck and his team are going in for the kill when they face the Sharks at Newlands on Saturday.
In what is effectively a last-16 Super Rugby tie, with the winner going through to the quarterfinal stage of the competition, Fleck knows it’s make or break in his final home match as Stormers coach.
With John Dobson taking over his role at the end of the season, Fleck is looking to finish off his stint as Stormers boss on the ultimate high.
For that to happen they have to get past the Sharks first this weekend.
Fleck explains: “This is our last round - it’s a make or break game for us. We win it and we go through to the quarters, we lose it and we don’t.”
The Stormers have suffered a number of injuries throughout their campaign this year and on Saturday they will also have to tackle the Sharks without first-choice scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies, who suffered a shoulder injury against the Sunwolves last weekend.
Of the injury, Fleck says: “The feedback from Herschel’s scans are that they were clear, they showed some bone bruising and there might be a muscle tear.
“The good news is that it doesn’t look like a long-term injury.”
Veteran Jano Vermaak is expected to come in at No.9 against the Sharks, with Fleck adding: “He [Herschel] has been phenomenal this year and he’s a big part of our plan.
“Jano [Vermaak] did pretty well at the weekend and it’s good to have his experience back.”
The Stormers had hoped to welcome back Pieter-Steph du Toit and JD Schickerling alongside fit-again players Scarra Ntubeni and Seabelo Senatla.
But Fleck reveals that Du Toit will be sidelined for a further four to six weeks, while Schickerling might be back if they make it to the playoffs.