Cape Town Stadium will swing open its doors to Super Hero Sunday this weekend.
For the first time in the history of rugby, the Stormers, Bulls, Lions and the Sharks will be dressed in superhero costumes.
But it won’t be kinder- speletjies as the South African Super Rugby sides near the end of their preparation for this tournament.
The curtain-raiser for the big match - the north-south derby - is a match between the Lions (Spiderman) and the Sharks (Black Panther) at 2 pm.
Here we take a closer look at the strengths and weaknesses of the two teams in the main attraction - the battle between the Stormers (Thor) and the Bulls (Captain America) which kicks off at 4.30pm.
WEAPON:
Thor’s hammer
The mastery of lightning and thunder will be controlled by Stormers flyhalf Josh Stander.
His distribution skills will be important if the Stormers want to free up space for lightning quick wing Seabelo Senatla. The thunderous noise made by the home support in Cape Town will also give the Capetonians a bit of an edge in this encounter.
Captain America’s Shield
The shield is believed to be indestructible, with the ability to turn defence to attack.
The Bulls badly needed the shield last season, having leaked an average of four tries a match.
Their back three is made up of Warrick Gelant, Jade Stighling and Duncan Matthews.
In Gelant they have a world class star, while the wingers have a point to prove.
SUPERPOWER:
Thor’s strength
Thor's strength knows no boundaries. Usually the Stormers’ pack of forwards match that superpower.
But with coach Robbie Fleck not selecting his Springboks for the clash, they have picked a “Currie Cup outfit” to do battle in this one.
Maar moenie dit vir daai manne vertel nie. All of them have a point to prove, from No.1 Ali Vermaak to No.8 Juarno Augustus.
Captain America the Strategist
A military strategist who knows how to conduct his troops is what the Captain is all about.
In the Bulls outfit, this special power will be in the hands of Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard.
He will have some good support from captain Lood de Jager and experienced players such as Schalk Brits, Trevor Nyakane, Duane Vermeulen and Burger Odendaal.
MAGIC:
Thor’s ability to travel through dimensions
Thor can open up new avenues and travel to unknown places.
And it will be up to Stormers fullback Dillyn Leyds to take his team to the next level.
Leyds has proven in the past that he can spark something out of nothing and will be a threat once again in open space.
Captain America’s physicality
A hand-to-hand combat yster, the Bulls have long relied on the strength of their pack of forwards.
With the addition of Springbok No.8 Duane Vermeulen it will be no different on Sunday.
A former Stormers player, the powerful Vermeulen - known as Thor - will be targeted by the Cape Town crowd and how he responds will have a telling impact on the outcome of the match.