Powerhouse No 8 Evan Roos set to boost Stormers for Durban redemption mission

Stormers assistant coach Rito Hlungwane believes a quick-fire rematch against the Sharks provides the perfect platform to "deal with the demons" of last weekend’s defeat.

It also helps that the Stormers are likely to have one of their main players, No 8 Evan Roos, back in the fold for this weekend's United Rugby Championship clash (5pm kick-off on Saturday) following last Saturday's 30-19 humbling at the hands of the Durban side.

Speaking ahead of the second instalment of the back-to-back SA derbies, Hlungwane addressed a squad currently resembling a casualty ward. While the news surrounding captain and lock Salmaan Moerat remains bleak, the potential return of powerhouse Roos has provided a significant boost to the Cape Town outfit.

Moerat, who missed training on Tuesday, is "highly unlikely" to feature this weekend after sustaining a toe injury during a very brief second-half appearance. But Hlungwane confirmed that both Roos and lock Adre Smith have returned to the training pitch.

The late withdrawal of Roos last Saturday disrupted the Stormers' tactical blueprint, forcing a reshuffle that blunted their back-row impact. Marcel Theunissen, normally one of the team's impact players in the second half, was thrown in from the start and didn't quite have the same influence in that role.

"Evan is definitely someone we missed," Hlungwane said. "He is very powerful, has a high work-rate and keeps us going forward. Marcel Theunissen and Evan are very different players; Marcel is more of a finisher for us, but the late change last week forced us to swap those roles. We are hoping to really have him back this week to regain that balance."

The Stormers’ lineout, usually a pillar of their game, stuttered under the Sharks' pressure last week. However, Hlungwane was refreshingly blunt, crediting the Sharks' defensive pressure and also pointing the finger at their own execution.

The Stormers butchered many lineouts in the Sharks' 22, with skew throw-ins and massive communication breakdowns. The Sharks also managed to steal a few with great reads.

"It was definitely not the standards that we usually chase," he admitted.

"The Sharks prepared well, but two skew throws close to the try line have nothing to do with the opponent. An overthrow and a poor lift have nothing to do with the opponent. It is about things on our side of the court which we must improve."

While back-to-back fixtures against the same opposition can be gruelling, Hlungwane views the scheduling as a psychological advantage for a side seeking redemption. Rather than stewing on a loss for months, the Stormers have just seven days to correct their course.

"It gives you an opportunity to quickly deal with the challenges you faced and fix the mistakes instead of waiting three or four months for another crack at them," Hlungwane explained. "It’s a unique situation that probably suits the losing team. You can quickly deal with your demons."