The South African Rugby Union sent out a media release on Thursday saying they expect a full house at Cape Town Stadium on Super Hero Sunday.
More than 50 000 tickets have been sold for the event which will see the Lions and the Sharks, disguised as Spiderman and Black Panther respectively, square off at 2 pm before the big encounter between the hosts Stormers (Thor) and the Bulls (Captain America) at 4.15pm.
But while Capetonians will flock to the stadium to see their heroes in action, they will have to be satisfied with a Stormers team not including Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, Bok superstar Pieter-Steph du Toit, Rooi Gevaar Stephen Kitshoff, yster Eben Etzebeth and busy hooker Bongi Mbonambi.
Instead, coach Robbie Fleck will use the encounter as an “important step forward in their preparations” for the upcoming Super Rugby season.
It will be Chris van Zyl that will lead the Stormers, with Fleck hoping his chargers can hammer down the visitors from the north.
Fleck says of the match: “There will be a big crowd and a special atmosphere this Sunday and the players are all looking forward to the experience.
“On the field this will be an important step forward for us in our preparations for the upcoming campaign...”
STORMERS:
15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 SP Marais, 10 Joshua Stander, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Cobus Wiese, 6 Jaco Coetzee, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Michael Kumbirai, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Ali Vermaak. Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 JD Schickerling, 21 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 22 Kobus van Dyk, 23 Herschel Jantjies, 24 Damian Willemse, 25 Sergeal Petersen and 26 Dan du Plessis.
BULLS:
15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Duncan Matthews, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Lood de Jager (captain), 4 Eli Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: 16 Corniel Els, 17 Simphiwe Matanzina, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Ruan Steenkamp, 21 Thembelani Bholi, 22 Embrose Papier, 23 Manie Libbok, 24 Dylan Sage, 25 Johnny Kotze and 26 Divan Rossouw.