It's been a bit of a stop-start opening to this game with a couple of players on either side receiving early treatment.

Aphelele Fassi is the latest to stay on the deck after a tackle by Greg Fisilau.

Is the Exeter number eight guilty of hitting too high?

Exeter have the line-out in a dangerous position but the ball is knocked forward by lock Richard Capstick and it's an early let off for the hosts.

Solid defence from Exeter repels wave after wave of Sharks attack before winning the penalty inside their own 22.

Rob Baxter will be pleased with what he has seen so far.

Sharks set the early tone as Ox Nche carries hard into a couple of pink shirts.

Exeter can expect plenty of that this afternoon.

It's a false start as the referee is not happy with something after Jordan Hendrikse's kick off.

The ball is thrown back to the Sharks 10 and now we are up and running...

Here we go then, we are all set for kick off.

Speaking to Premier Sports, Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter said: "We know it is going to be an incredible challenge and the Sharks have some phenomenal talent but we have had some success in this competition too.

"We probably have a group of players with more individual potential than we had back then but that group had time to grow as a team."

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Sharks: Fassi; Keyter, Hooker, Esterhuizen, Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Williams; Nche, Mbonambi, Nyakane, Etzebeth (capt), Van Heerden, J Venter, Tshituka, Kolisi.

Replacements: Richardson, Mchunu, Jacobs, Jenkins, Buthelezi, Jaden Hendrikse, Masuku, F Venter.

Exeter: Hodge; Feyi-Waboso, Hammersley, Tua, Wyatt; Haydon-Wood, Townsend; Sio, Frost, Street, Molina, Capstick, E Roots, Vermeulen (capt), Fisilau.

Replacements: Innard, Goodrick-Clarke, J Roots, Tshiunza, Vintcent, Becconsall, Skinner, Rigg.

Exeter have named five Champions Cup debutants in their squad to face the Sharks in their Pool One opener.

Lock Franco Molina, fly-half Will Haydon-Wood and centre Tamati Tua will face last year's Challenge Cup winners from the start, while prop Jimmy Roots and centre Will Rigg are among the replacements.

England centre Henry Slade is rested, meanwhile, following his involvement in the Autumn Nations Series.

Meanwhile, South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth returns to captain a strong Sharks side, which also includes Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi at number eight.

We'll have the full line-ups next...

The Champions Cup kicked off with a thriller at the Rec on Friday as two-time winners La Rochelle beat Bath.

It's a busy Saturday of opening round action, starting with the Sharks v Exeter in sunny Durban...

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Thankfully there is no sign of Storm Darragh in South Africa, but how will Exeter fare in the December sunshine?

Kick off is at 13:00 GMT...