Can the Stormers follow through?

The Stormers' unrivalled consistency has put them in pole position this weekend, but will they crash and burn against the Sharks?

Allister Coetzee's team have not lost a game at home this season and have shown a remarkable ability to squeeze out tight wins without being completely dominant or convincing - something which has earned them a fair amount of criticism to go with their place at the top of the standings.

The challenge now is to make the most of the opportunity they have created for themselves by coming though their semifinal against the Sharks who Coetzee describes as the form team in the competition.

The Cape side's low risk approach which is based on defensive discipline and uncompromising physicality seems to have been made for knock-out rugby, but there is still the very real prospect of it all slipping through their hands as it did at the same stage last year.

Captain Jean de Villiers believes that his team has developed significantly since getting bullied by the Crusaders in their home semifinal last year, and is confident that their preparations have been spot on this time around.

"I feel that the preparation is totally different from last year, I think we are in a much better space than we were last year.

"We have had a week off from playing even though we did train and I think psychologically, mentally and physically the guys are ready.

"Hopefully we can get a good start this time around and learn from the mistakes that we made in the past," he said.

The veteran centre dismissed claims that the Sharks' demanding travel schedule will dampen their intensity on Saturday, explaining that there can be no excuses for either side with a spot in the final up for grabs.

"When you get to this stage of the competition you overcome anything that might make you not play well. Even though they have had to travel the motivation is there, you are at the business end of the competition and you are playing to win the trophy.

"If they should go on to beat us on Saturday and they travel to New Zealand and beat either the Crusaders or the Chiefs over there I think that would probably be the best effort from a team in the history of Super Rugby.

"The unfortunate thing is that they are capable of doing that. It is a lot to play for, they are playing to be the best and so are we so there is a lot on the line and it makes for a great game on Saturday," he said.

De Villiers said that the key for the Stormers will be to maintain focus and execute their gameplan as accurately as possible if they are to secure their first home final next week.

"The key is to concentrate on what we need to do this weekend, the process of getting a good result and focusing on the mini-victories within the big battle.

"We have had opportunities in the past that we have not taken, so we realise that it is a massive opportunity, but it comes down to 80 minutes of rugby and whoever wants it more and whoever plays better on the day," he said.

The Stormers skipper admitted that the number of stars in the Sharks squad makes them formidable opponents, and added that the competition for places in the Springbok side will only raise the stakes on Saturday.

"They are in a situation now where you sort of think, who do they leave out rather than who to select so that is a very fortunate position to be in.

"I think there will be a lot of feeling in the game and don't forget that guys are playing for Springbok spots as well," he said.

By Michael de Vries