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Cape Town - Sharks captain Tendai Mtawarira knows how important the physical battle will be against the Hurricanes in Saturday's Super Rugby quarter-final in Wellington.
The Springbok prop will continue to lead the side in the absence of Pat Lambie.
The task awaiting the Sharks is massive and there are few who are giving them a chance, but Mtawarira knows what to expect from his side's heavily fancied Kiwi opposition.
"When you go up against a New Zealand side you know that you have to front up physically," he said.
"They will bring it and they’ll want to bully you up front, especially against South African teams ... it’s something they try and do from the onset.
"A good start is very important, especially playing at Westpac."
The Sharks, Mtawarira added, would have to be clinical in order to give themselves a chance.
"This whole season this young team has really stepped up to the plate," he said.
"I think everybody is excited and, first and foremost, it’s well deserved to get to this stage.
"But now it’s crunch time. In finals, you only get a couple of chances on the day and you have to take them. It’s something that we’re training for in our preparation … making sure we work very hard on our detail.
"It’s all we can do; control the controllables and not worry about the rest. If we can bring a performance like we have done the whole season when we’ve been at our best I think we’re in with a massive chance."
