Hooker boost and scrumhalf blow for Stormers

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: A 24-man Stormers squad will leave for Wales on Monday for their final league match of the United Rugby Championship campaign.

The Stormers face Scarlets in a Round 18 encounter at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday.

While their place in the United Rugby Championship play-offs is already secure, the Stormers can ensure home advantage in the quarterfinals with a win against Scarlets on Saturday.

Hooker Andre-Hugo Venter has returned from injury to take his place in the travelling squad.

Venter's return is a boost for the Capetonians as they were short on options after Scarra Ntubeni's injury. The Stormers had to bring in Cheetahs hooker Wilmar Arnoldi on loan for their last clash which was against Leinster.

Meanwhile, scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies has not been included in the squad as he is still recovering from a hand injury.

In a further blow, Paul de Wet has also been left out of the squad.

The squad does include scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer, who is back with the Stormers on a short-term loan, having featured in the first five games of the season.

The other scrumhalf in the travelling squad is Godlen Masimla.

Stormers head coach John Dobson said that his team are intent on carrying some winning momentum into the knock-out phase of the competition.

"This is a vital game for us as we look to secure home advantage in the play-offs, so the players all understand what is at stake.

"We want to end the league phase of the competition on a high, but we know that we will have to be at our best to come away with a win against a highly motivated Scarlets side," he said.

Stormers travelling squad (alphabetical order): Hacjivah Dayimani, Neethling Fouche, Deon Fourie, Warrick Gelant, Brok Harris, Steven Kitshoff (captain), JJ Kotze, Manie Libbok, Frans Malherbe, Godlen Masimla, Salmaan Moerat, Ruhan Nel, Marvin Orie, Evan Roos, Seabelo Senatla, Cornel Smit, Marcel Theunissen, Stefan Ungerer, Ernst van Rhyn, Andre-Hugo Venter, Ali Vermaak, Damian Willemse, Nama Xaba, Leolin Zas.