In their debut season in the Pro14, the Bloemfontein side exceeded everybody’s expectations by qualifying for the quarter-finals of the tournament.

The match is already being billed as the Pro14 game of the season.

Speaking to OFM Sport from Cardiff in Wales, the Cheetahs captain, Francois Venter, said that they haven’t put too much thought into becoming the first ever South African rugby team to play in a major European quarter-final.

“I think anybody has really thought about it. Everybody has been so focussed on the process and what we need to do.

“Now that is has been said, it’s the first time that I am thinking about it.

“I know it’s a cliché saying that it just going to be another match. What will be different is that the crowd will turn up and we know that you don’t get another shot at it.

“In a quarter-final, semi-final or final anything can happen on the day.

“We just need to ensure that we shift the momentum in our favour, and hopefully get on top of the Scarlets.”

None of the current crop of Cheetahs played in that Super Rugby play-off match against the Brumbies in Canberra back in 2013. Playing in a major international competition is new territory for the players, but playing in finals is nothing new for the team.

A large chunk of players progressed from winning the Varsity Cup for the University of the Free State Shimlas in 2015, and these same guys went unbeaten in 2016 to win the Currie Cup for the Free State Cheetahs.

Venter added that overcoming the odds and winning big games is something of a trademark for the team.

“That’s a trademark of Free State rugby. A lot of people don’t root for us, and they do write us off before the season starts.

“The fight from the players in the team is to prove them wrong. There is a lot of emotion going into the game because a lot of guys realise that it can be there last three games for the Free State.

“As a squad and as a collective we have been playing together for five years now. Everybody knows each other’s ins-and-outs and we know how to handle the pressure situation.”

Saturday evening’s huge match between the defending champions, Scarlets, and the Cheetahs at Parc Y Scarlets kicks off at 19:35.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport