Preview: Stormers v Waratahs

VENUE & TIME: Newlands, Cape Town, Sunday May 11, 3.10am (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 11 – Stormers 6, Waratahs 5
LAST TIME: March 17, 2007 (Sydney) – Stormers 16-10 Waratahs

WALKING WOUNDED: Tighthead prop Al Baxter sent a scare through the camp on Wednesday when he suffered a blow to the face in a training mishap. With Matt Dunning already ruled out with a calf strain the Waratahs have added Dan Palmer to the touring party - but Baxter is expected to play. The Stormers emerged from a physical clash with the Brumbies unscathed but the men from Cape Town have suffered their fair share of casualties already. Schalk Burger (knee), Tiaan Liebenberg (knee) and JD Moller (prop) are all out for the remainder of the season, while flyer Tonderai Chavhanga (hamstring) will miss this week's match but is a chance to return should the Stormers qualify for the semi-finals.

FORM: Outside of runaway leaders the Crusaders, these Week 13 combatants are the form sides in the competition with each having won five of their last six Super 14 fixtures. The Waratahs' five-match winning streak ended with a three-point loss to the Bulls in a rain-soaked Pretoria last start, while the Stormers' most recent loss - also by three points - was suffered against the Blues back in Week 6. The Stormers' unbeaten run is all the more impressive considering their steady loss of key players in recent weeks, but under coach Rassie Erasmus their self-confidence appears unwavering. Conditions conspired against the Waratahs in Pretoria and if they get a dry track they are a totally different proposition.

WHO'S HOT: Not many teams can lose a player of Tiaan Liebenberg's calibre and replace him with an equal - or some would say a better player. But in Liebenberg's absence, Schalk Brits has more than filled the void producing a man-of-the-match display against the Brumbies. The 26-year-old is capable of splitting defences with his deceptive pace and yet is equally at home in the trenches - he must be shut down if the Waratahs hope to steal the points.

WE THINK: Momentum is a wonderful thing and in front of a packed house at Newlands it will take a quality performance to break their impressive unbeaten run. But with the benefit of an extra week to acclimatise, we think the Waratahs are up to the task. Blindside flanker Rocky Elsom could prove the decisive factor in his second match back from an extended layoff. Although the Stormers backrow held up against the Brumbies without Schalk Burger, look for the Wallabies No.6 to cause havoc at the breakdown in his absence. Waratahs by 10.

TEAMS:
Stormers: 1. Brian Mujati, 2. Schalk Brits, 3. Brok Harris, 4. Adriaan Fondse, 5. Andries Bekker, 6. Luke Watson, 7.Francois Louw, 8. Robbie Diack, 9. Ricky Januarie, 10. Peter Grant, 11. Siveli Naqelevuki, 12. Jean de Villiers (c), 13.Gcobani Bobo, 14. Wylie Human, 15. Conrad Janties.
Reserves: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Schalk Ferreira, 18. Ross Skeate, 19. Pieter Myburgh, 20. Bolla Conradie, 21. Tony Brown, 22. Dylan Des Fountain.
Predicted Waratahs team.

Waratahs: 1. Benn Robinson, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 3. Al Baxter, 4. Dean Mumm, 5. Dan Vickerman, 6. Rocky Elsom, 7. Phil Waugh (c), 8. Wycliff Palu, 9. Luke Burgess, 10. Kurtley Beale, 11. Lote Tuqiri, 12. Tom Carter, 13. Rob Horne, 14. Lachie Turner, 15. Sam Norton-Knight.
Reserves: 16. Adam Freier, 17. Beau Robinson/Dan Palmer, 18. Will Caldwell, 19. David Lyons, 20. Sekope Kepu, 21. Matt Carraro, 22. Brett Sheehan.