Getting yourself into a position where you are playing in a home quarterfinal takes a lot of hard work, sacrifice, trying to fix all the kinks in the game and build momentum. “The hard work has been done throughout the year. “Mentally you have to be the sharpest,” he said. Kitshoff underlined the paramount importance of being mentally ready for these kinds of occasions. I know there’s a lot of work to be done, especially those 80 minutes on the field, but I will give it everything and try to make the team as proud as possible in front of the faithful.” Mental readiness is key “I’m as energised as can be and looking forward to this weekend. When you get to these moments, you live for them. “It’s games like these that you look forward to as a kid growing up. “Playing for the Stormers is the best decision I could have ever made as a young rugby lad, and playing in the north-south derby in a playoff, it’s extremely personal. I am definitely going to miss Cape Town, it has a special place in my heart. “I will miss the team, playing in the blue and white hoops, the management, players, the support staff, everything that goes around DHL Western Province, the rich culture and town. “One of the things I am going to miss most is the atmosphere that the faithful bring every weekend, the number of people that come and support the team on a Friday or Saturday afternoon. “It might be my last game for a while at Cape Town Stadium and in a Stormers jersey – you never know what the future holds. “It is a huge game for me personally,” he added. For Kitshoff it will likely be his swansong and the loosehead prop reflected on his time with the Stormers and Western Province. The clash against the Bulls is a replay of last season’s final and will be an intriguing battle. That’s the goal, for the Stormers and myself personally, to win back-to-back trophies.” A proud Capetonian We are really looking forward to getting three big victories and going back-to-back. “It will be a massive motivator and the team is as prepared as can be. “Anything can happen in play-off games, it’s the team that’s most desperate on the day, the bounce of the ball, getting the ref’s calls in your favour. “We have a real opportunity and if we get through the quarter-finals, there’s possibly two away games we need to travel to Ireland,” said Kitshoff. The experienced superstar is no stranger to knockout rugby and knows that anything can happen in a play-off match, and the Stormers need to be ready. Their charge for the title in the post-season begins with a gruelling north-south derby against the Bulls this weekend. Now the champions head into the quarter-finals with their eyes firmly on defending the title. Kitshoff is a Stormers legend, having made the most appearances for the club as well as being the first captain to lead the Capetonians to an international title when they claimed the United Rugby Championship last season. The Springbok is set to play what could be his last home game for the Stormers as he is moving to Ulster next season. Stormers skipper Steven Kitshoff is eyeing back-to-back titles with the Cape Town side as he enters his final few games for the club.
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