'It's Bok against Bok' - Dobson excited for Stormers-Sharks showdown

Dobson described the United Rugby Championship derby as a "Test match" occasion, with both teams recalling a number of Springbok stars for the match.

"It's Bok against Bok. It's going to be one of those derbies," said Dobson.

"There are lots of reasons to buy tickets this week.

"I think this game is going to have the feel of a classic derby.

"I am not worried about raising the players. I am not worried about us being flat at all."

The Stormers lost both of their derbies against the Sharks last season, and Dobson said the players are eager to make amends.

"It was our low point of last season losing those two games to the Sharks," the coach admitted.

"We had the ignominy of losing to them at home. We didn't even get a losing bonus point at home against a team that would have been lying tenth in the log or something."

Dobson has included eight Springboks in his starting XV, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse, Cobus Reinach and Paul de Villiers among those returning to the side, while a further three World Cup winners are named on the bench.

"With the respect we are showing the derby, the respect we are showing the Sharks and on the back of last season, we have gone with the strongest team we could possibly go," he said.

"We are pretty much at as full a roster as we could have hoped for.

"It's one of those games that we dream about in the year, a local derby against a Sharks team that is doing really well.

"We are welcoming back all our guys we are so proud of from the Springboks team.

"It's a local derby at the best time to play rugby, 4pm on a Saturday afternoon at a heaving DHL Stadium.

"It's going to be something very special, so we are super excited. This is as good a local derby as you are going to get.

"If you look at the quality of players across both teams, these are the guys who were doing the country so proud a few weeks ago and now they are going toe to toe.

"It will be the very best of South African rugby. It will be like a Test match out there. It's going to be a special occasion."

READ MORE: Sharks bolster starting XV with three key Springboks for Stormers clash