Stormers star Deon Fourie predicts big battle upfront against Clermont

The Stormers are set for their Heineken Champions Cup debut against Clermont this weekend and veteran Deon Fourie is under no illusions about the task ahead.

Fourie earned over 90 caps with French club Lyon who featured several times in Europe's pinnacle club rugby tournament. As such, the Springbok is keenly aware that their European counterparts will raise their game to match the occasion at Stade Marcel Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand on Saturday afternoon.

In terms of the on-field battle, Fourie is predicting a clash of titans in the forward pack. Thankfully for the visitors, a number of their Springboks stars are back in the fray, including himself, fellow forward Steven Kitshoff and the mercurial Damian Willemse.

"A big team like Clermont, they are also packed with international stars and quality players... up front will be the biggest task," Fourie told rugby365.com.

"We saw in the game between the French and the Springboks on the end-of-year tour, they are quite dominant and have evolved a bit in that department as well.

"They also have quality strike players like [France wing] Damian Penaud. So this is going to be an all-out clash.

"From my past experience, the guys tend to raise their level in this competition. This is such a prestigious competition and this is usually when they put in all their big stars. Itâ™s a big thing to win the Champions Cup."