Brumbies coach Dan McKellar believes the side’s strong recent record in Africa will see them past the Stormers in Cape Town.
The 3-5 Brumbies endured a sluggish start to the Super Rugby season but kicked their campaign alive with a thumping win against the Lions last week.
They must on Saturday take down another South African powerhouse to keep the momentum going, but this time on the road.
They’ll then travel to Argentina to face the Jaguares, but McKellar said his team had proven travel doesn’t faze them.
“It’s a tough place to win but we’ve won here plenty of times before, we won a quarterfinal here (in 2015) and toured well last year,” McKellar said.
“We beat the Bulls in Pretoria and we were in front against the Lions before we got a red and yellow card. The year previous to that we won in South Africa and beat the Jags on the road as well.
“It’s a tough challenge touring, but obviously travel doesn’t scare us.”
The 4-4 Stormers return to Newlands with plenty of confidence after taking down the Australian Conference-leading Rebels in Melbourne last week.
The Stormers boast one of the burliest packs in Super Rugby but McKellar still opted for a 3-5 bench and backed his forwards to muscle up.
“They are a big side with a good scrum and maul, so we’ll have to front up physically and make sure that we are dominating the collisions where possible and defend well,” McKellar said.
“Hopefully we can create some opportunities in attack and when you get them you’ve got to take them.”
Brumbies flanker David Pocock (calf) will miss his fifth straight game but McKellar was confident he’d play against the Jaguares.
“He was always unlikely, next week was the always the plan but he’s been here training and progressing,” McKellar said.
Back-rower and potential Wallabies bolter Lachlan McCaffrey, meanwhile, has been among the Brumbies’ best this season but has failed to overcome a knee injury suffered against the Lions and may travel back to Australia.