International class will ooze from the starting XV, the reserve bench and even the grandstand in Christchurch on Saturday for what shapes as the most lop-sided of the quarter-finals.
The Durban-based Sharks, who snuck into eighth place on points differential ahead of the Melbourne Rebels, face a series of immense obstacles.
First is travel, so often a crippling impediment in the finals.
Then there's a miserable 1-11 win-loss record in Christchurch and the form of the defending champions, who have won 12 straight games.