Edinburgh and Stormers have a history of knockout setbacks but WP Nel believes Mike Blair's squad can impose themselves on hosts

Much has been made of Edinburgh’s poor record in knockout rugby but the Stormers have struggled similarly in play-off matches in recent years.

The two sides will meet on Saturday in the quarter-finals of the United Rugby Championship so something has to give in Cape Town.

Edinburgh’s win over Bath in April in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup was their first in a knockout tie for seven years. Prior to that they had lost one last-16 match, five quarter-finals and one semi.

The Stormers’ travails have come in the Super Rugby play-offs where they have won only one in ten – the 2010 semi-final against the Waratahs at Newlands.

Mike Blair was reluctant to dwell on Edinburgh’s record this week but the coach will take comfort from their victory over Bath, albeit they were eliminated in the next round by Wasps.

WP Nel has been around the club long enough to experience the knockout heartaches which proved to be Richard Cockerill’s Achilles’ heel during his time in charge.

“When it comes to knockout stages you have to be on it,” said the prop. “In the past we have been a little bit not well prepared.

“We have looked at how we prepare for this game. It is not just another game, it is a really important game for us, but we can't focus on the occasion.

“We need to focus on what we can do and what we have done this whole season. We just have to play rugby and impose our game on them.”

It’s been a long, hard season and at 36 Nel could be excused for turning his thoughts to the summer. But the veteran tighthead retains a determination to drive this team on and says the squad’s youthful vigour rubs off on him. He rates it the best Edinburgh side he has been involved with.

“We have good characters in our team and they keep the morale and