Stormers coach John Dobson insists they are not scared by the prospect of playing away in the quarterfinals of the United Rugby Championship (URC) should they fall below the top four at the end of the regular season.

The Stormers Director of Rugby also warned rivals that they will fight for a top-four finish as the playoffs draw closer.

The Stormers secured a convincing 44-21 win over the Dragons at Rodney Parade on Friday, a result that supported Dobson’s assertion on playing on the road.

The Cape Town side is in fifth place on the URC log, having collected 50 points.

Securing a top-four finish will ensure that the Stormers play host in the quarterfinals, while a lower finish means they will play on the road.

Dobson says the stunning defeat to Ospreys a few weeks ago dented their top-four aspirations.

“I think the top four probably went when we lost to Ospreys, but we’ll keep fighting. Munster won everything on the way to winning last time. I know it’s clutching a little bit at straws, but yes, we have put ourselves in the picture for it.

“What we couldn’t have happened was not being in the top eight for the playoffs. We are in the fight now. If certain results go our way, we could finish in the top four, it would be great,” Dobson told the media after the game.

The Stormers have reached the finals in the previous two editions of the URC, losing last year’s finale to Irish giants Munster.

Dobson is adamant they will weather the storm even if they have to play away in the quarterfinals.

“There’s nobody we are really scared of in this competition, or scared of going away to or anything like that.

“We have hosted every playoff game (in the past two seasons), but our focus is experiences like this, where we can start winning away,” Dobson added.

The Stormers will face top-eight hopefuls Connacht this coming weekend. The Irish side is currently placed ninth on the URC log standings with two rounds remaining.

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