Champions Cup: John Dobson backs growing depth as Stormers target Harlequins win

The Stormers were thumped 53-16 by Quins in their round-two clash last season after deciding to send an under-strength team following their home loss to Toulon in Gqeberha a week earlier.

Twelve months on, however, and the Stormers are now comfortably top of the URC standings, boasting a perfect record after eight matches, and also top Pool 3 in the Champions Cup with two wins from two.

There is every reason for the men from the Cape to chase an away victory this time around, particularly against a Quins side seemingly in crisis.

A heavy 66-21 Premiership defeat to Northampton at the weekend followed earlier losses to Bristol Bears (40-14) and Sale Sharks (43-17), leaving Quins with seven defeats from nine league matches in the Premiership and prompting a joint statement from CEO Laurie Dalrymple and chairman Dave Morgan to address growing fan concern.

The pressure has also ramped up on new coach Jason Gilmore, who only recently took over from the departing Danny Wilson.

Home advantage remains a significant factor, however, and while Dobson would prefer to send a full-strength side to England, the demands of a long-haul trip and a short turnaround before next weekend's final pool game against Leicester in Cape Town make rotation unavoidable.

Still, the Stormers coach is confident his side now has the depth to challenge meaningfully in Europe, and hinted that one or two of their star players would be making the trip.

"We are going to have to select with the game in Cape Town and short turnaround in mind, but it will be different to last year," Dobson said. "It'll be a team that we think can win in London.

"The big thing has been our growth and our squad depth, which is the most important part of the project. Suleiman Hartzenberg was the 41st player we've used this season, which shows how far the group has come."

Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani, however, expects no easing of the physical challenge, despite Harlequins' turbulent spell.

"They're going through a tough time, but they're still a quality team, especially at home," he said. "We're expecting a brutal game in very cold conditions. They have very good players and they'll be desperate.

"But we're going there to compete and, in a perfect world, come out with a win. It's a game we really, really want to win because it helps us going forward in this competition and in the hunt for a home playoff."

Prop Oli Kebble echoed his coach's sentiments, stressing that form lines would count for little at The Stoop.

"It's never an easy place to play," he said. "We know what's coming physically."

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