Coetzee ready to unleash the beast

The return of the abrasive Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has not only got Stormers fans,  but coach Allister Coetzee as well, very excited.

The South African Young Player of the Year in 2012 will sit on the bench in what will be his first Super Rugby match of 2013 and it could not have come at a better time for the Stormers.

"Eben [Etzebeth] is ready to play," Coetzee said, speaking from the team's base in New Zealand.

"The thinking behind starting him on the bench is to give him the best opportunity to get used to Super Rugby intensity.

"It is the first match that he will play for a long time following his injury so I think that that is way to do it," Coetzee explained.

The Stormers are taking a leaf out of the Blues book with Etzebeth as it is exactly what John Kirwan did with the return of hooker Kevin Mealamu.

Having a player with the experience of Mealamu is something that Coetzee is not taking lightly.

"Kevin [Mealamu] is a fantastic player and one of the most experienced players.

"He brings experience but that is not the only challenge we face, he is one of those players that get's around the field," Coetzee said.

Both sides have won four and lost four games but the Blues have a four point cushion due to their superior bonus point tally.

The game is going a test for the defence of the Stormers with a number of electric backs in the Blues line-up.

"Rene Ranger and [Francis] Saili have been in good form. [However,] Jean De Villiers is an experienced campaigner, Juan de Jongh and Bryan Habana understand that this will be a big challenge and they have to be up for it," the coach mentioned.

The Blues, with their enterprising backline, also have a very solid pack of forwards and the collision point will be an area of focus this Friday.

"It is going to be a tough, physical battle and that is what we are preparing for.

"It is going to be really confrontational and I think the collision is going to be the key areas for us in the game.

"[Steven] Luatua has been playing really well, he has a high work-rate and gets around the field and is a good ball carrier," Coetzee said cautiously.

As always the Stormers are going to look to their set-piece to grind down the Blues and put them under pressure because trying to take them on in open play could be detrimental.

"Our set-piece must function to be able to, not only to build pressure in one department but in all departments.

"The contest and the confrontation at set-piece will be huge," Coetzee concluded.