Last year, the Cheetahs made their debut in the competition against Ulster in Belfast and on the day lost 42-19.

The Irishmen are in good form at the moment with three wins from three, which for the Cheetahs it’s the exact opposite with three losses.

The Ulster and Irish centre, Stuart McCloskey, told OFM Sport this makes the Cheetahs more dangerous.

“I know if we'd lost three in a row this game would be massive for us at home.

“I know that they're a young team, a lot of 22- and 23-year olds, I also know they lost a lot of older heads and experienced guys, but a wounded animal can sometimes be the most dangerous.

“We're preparing for anything.

“They can score, same as Southern Kings, from anywhere, and they came third last year so they're maybe not a bad team, they're just in a bad run of form.

“We're trying to not be the ones where they get off the mark and get on a run again.

Friday evening’s game at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 19:30.

Toyota Cheetahs - 15 Malcolm Jaer, 14 William Small-Smith, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Nico Lee, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer (captain), 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 JP du Preez, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ox Nche.

Replacements - 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Gunther Janse van Vuuren, 19 Justin Basson, 20 Stephan Malan, 21 Shaun Venter, 22 Louis Fouché, 23 Ryno Eksteen

Ulster - 15 Will Addison, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 Henry Speight, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Angus Kernohan, 10 Billy Burns, 9 David Shanahan, 8 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Sean Reidy, 6 Matthew Rea, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Alan O'Connor, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Rob Herring (captain), 1 Eric O'Sullivan

Replacements - 16 John Andrew, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Tom O'Toole, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Nick Timoney, 21 Jonny Stewart, 22 Angus Curtis, 23 Darren Cave.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport