Rookie Queensland captain John Roe remains confident the Reds can overcome the most tumultuous week in the club's history by upsetting a Springbok-laden Stormers outfit.
Roe was thrown into the hot seat by Reds coach Jeff Miller on Wednesday following Nathan Sharpe's defection to Western Australia and Elton Flatley's decision to stand aside due to ill health.
He became Queensland's third captain in less than 24 hours and was handed the unenviable task of leading a disjointed Reds side into Saturday's vital Super 12 match in Cape Town (AEST 11pm).
The red-headed Wallabies back-rower beat out a number of qualified applicants for the post including Chris Latham, Nick Stiles and David Croft.
Roe, who had only recently overcome a shoulder injury, described being away from Queensland as a "bonus" after Sharpe joined Brendan Cannon as the inaugural signings of WA's new franchise.
The Reds, currently stuck in ninth place, desperately need a win against the seventh-placed Stormers to keep their slim finals hopes alive.
"We've been in such turmoil with Sharpie and Flats' announcements," Roe said from South Africa.
"We've been shielded from the media gaze and that's allowed us to really concentrate on this game which is very important to us."
Roe insisted the Reds were fully behind former leader Sharpe who is pivotal to Queensland's chances of sneaking into their first finals series since 2001.
"He was very emotional yesterday obviously," Roe said.
"This team means a lot to him and he means a lot to the team, so it was a very tough decision for him but it's made now.
"He's made the right decision for him and his family and no one's going to fault him.
"We're also very confident that there's not one shred of Nathan Sharpe that would not put a 100 per cent in for the Queensland Reds for the rest of the season."
The Reds face a torrid task in overcoming the Stormers who play the first of five successive home games.
Springboks centre De Wet Barry will captain the side for the first time with Roe labelling fellow outside back Marius Joubert and fiery flanker Schalk Burger as dangermen.
"They're stacked with Springboks so it's very difficult to nominate individual players but I think the obvious ones are the centres, De Wet and Joubert, and Schalk Burger in the back-row," he said.
"He's a great player, (the IRB's) player of the year last year, so he's definitely one we've got to watch but as I said the whole team is full of Springboks and we've got to show them a lot of respect."
Teams: Stormers: Werner Greeff, Breyton Paulse, Marius Joubert, De Wet Barry, Jean de Villiers, Chris Rossouw, Bolla Conradie, Adri Badenhorst, Schalk Burger, Luke Watson, Gerrie Britz, Quinton Davids, Faan Rautenbach, Pieter Dixon, Eddie Andrews. Reserves: Lukas van Biljon, JD Moller, Rob Linde, David Hendricks, Neil de Kock, Gaffie du Toit, Tonderai Chavhanga.
Reds: Chris Latham, Wendell Sailor, Junior Pelesasa, Steve Kefu, Drew Mitchell, Julian Huxley, Josh Valentine, John Roe, David Croft, Tom McVerry, Nathan Sharpe (captain), Hugh McMeniman, Greg Holmes, Steve Moore, Nick Stiles. Reserves: Sean Hardman, Rod Blake, Daniel Heenan, Luke Doherty, Nic Berry, Brock James, Peter Hynes.