Stormers eager to give Kitshoff a fitting Cape Town send-off: 'A big player we respect a lot'

The Stormers are eager to give skipper Steven Kitshoff a big send-off in the URC playoffs.

Saturday's quarter-final against the Bulls could be Kitshoff's last home game for the Stormers, as the Bok prop is set to join Irish side Ulster at the end of the season.

If the Stormers beat the Bulls, they are likely to play away from home in either the semi-finals or final, unless Ulster or Leinster unexpectedly slip up.

Playmaker Damian Willemse told reporters on Tuesday they wanted to see Kitshoff bow out in style in front of his home fans.

"Everyone is well aware that it might be Steven's last match at Cape Town Stadium," said Willemse.

"And he is a big player at the franchise and [we] respect him a lot. We obviously want to do it for him. But where this team is heading and what we, as a group, want is to put in a huge performance.

"It's going to make us proud, the coaches, the union and everyone that supports us. First things first is to get the win and we will definitely celebrate it.

"If it happens that results do not go our way and we don't get to play another game with Steven at Cape Town Stadium, so be it. But for us as a group, we are focused to get our stuff right and be in the best position to win the quarter-final."

Friday, 5 May

Quarter-final 2: Ulster (2) v Connacht (7) - Kingspan Stadium, Belfast (20:35 SA time) 

Saturday, 6 May: 

Quarter-final 3: Stormers (3) v Bulls (6) - Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town (15:30)

Quarter-Final 1: Leinster (1) v Sharks (8) - Aviva Stadium, Dublin (18:00 SA time).

Quarter-Final 4: Glasgow Warriors (4) v Munster (5) - Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow (20:35 SA time)

READ | Injury-ravaged Sharks land in Ireland for 'Mission Impossible'

Despite finishing third on the URC standings, Willemse feels the