Sharks coach John Plumtree is expecting a tough test against the Stormers at Newlands © Getty Images

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Tournaments/Tours: Super 14

Teams: Sharks | South Africa | Stormers

Sharks coach John Plumtree is relishing the test ahead of his side when they travel to face the Stormers at a packed Newlands in their opening Super 14 game on Saturday.

The Sharks and Stormers have been tipped by many to provide the sternest challenge from a South African side during this year's championship, and Plumtree's men will want to hit the ground running as they look to build on their success in the 2008 Currie Cup.

"If you look at all the games in the competition, I think people are very excited about this one," he told sharksrugby.co.za. "A packed Newlands has to be one of the toughest challenges in the competition."

Plumtree highlighted the importance of winning your home fixtures in the Suoer 14, pitting added pressure on a Stormers side that will still be smarting from failing to make the play-offs last season.

"In this competition, you have to win your home games if you want to be realistically in it," he said. "If you lose your home games you're going to struggle, so it is important for them to get a win and get off to a good start. But we're also placing an emphasis on winning. This is like a home game for us because it's in South Africa and we'll get some support down there, the boys certainly won't be intimidated."

The Sharks defeated an under-strength Bulls side 39-9 in their final warm-up match, and now Plumtree is concerning himself with ensuring a good opening performance regardless of the result at Newlands.

"We're looking at performance and they're probably looking at the result, although the one doesn't come without the other and they'll have to perform to beat us," he said. "We're just looking to get our game going, the same that we had going last year and we'll be closer to it against the Stormers than we were in the Bulls warm-up."

Plumtree expects the game to be won up-front, with the winner at the tackle area emerging as the winner overall.

"If it's won technically or tactically, I'd be surprised," he said. "I think it will probably be won by sheer brute force; typical South African sides having a crack at each other - I'm sure the Kiwi and Aussie sides will watch the game with interest - it's probably the team that dominates the collision that comes out on top.

"There are plenty of Springboks in both sides, they will know if they hurt us at the collision area and dominate the gain line, we could be chasing shadows all day. I guess they would be saying the same thing. Really, it is going to be about the side that is tougher at the set-piece and breakdown area."