If the defending champion Bulls are the yardstick by which other teams measure themselves, then Springbok flyhalf Morne Steyn is surely the ideal challenge for any No.10.

And that is exactly what Cheetahs pivot Naas Olivier has on his hands in Bloemfontein on Friday, when he goes head-to-head with the biggest match-winner of 2009.

Olivier, who will play in his first match since a pre-season knee injury sidelined him for four weeks, is looking forward to the opportunity to face up to South Africa's most succesful team of the last decade ... not to mention facing Steyn.

Following his series-winning performances against the British and Irish Lions, as well as against Australian and New Zealand in the Tri-Nations - okay, throw in the Super 14 and Currie Cup for good measure - the Bulls flyhalf is obviously the talk of the town.

And rightly so!

But the Griquas flyhalf, Olivier, in his first full Super Rugby season in Bloemfontein, believes that behind the impressive Cheetahs pack he may be able to do some damage of his own in the opening round of the Super 14.

The Cheetahs, Olivier believes, now have the experience to match the two-time champion Bulls.

"What is really great is that we have a brutish tight five, which is something I have not experienced in a while as a flyhalf," Olivier told us, during a break from training, while preparing for Friday's battle of Bloemfontein.

"[As a flyhalf] you are very reliant on good quality possession," he said, adding: "I don't want to take anything away from Griquas, but you do have to survive off scraps at times.

"However, to now have a quality tight five, with world class loose forwards [Springboks Ashley Johnson, Juan Smith, as captain and Heinrich Brussow] and then also that quality in the backline. We have some really nice combinations of youth and experience in the backs.

"And then there is [Griquas teammate] Riaan Viljoen at fullback, who takes a lot of pressure off me with his long touchfinders.

"It will be great and I am looking forward to it," he said of the encounter with the Bulls.

Cheetahs aim for play-offs

While the Cheetahs have always had talented teams on paper, they have never finished higher than 10th in the Super 14 - with a new low of 14th last year.

However, Olivier believes they now have the resources to launch a genuine challenge for as play-off spot.

"This year we have some settled combinations, who have been together for two years now," he told this website.

"The Cheetahs have lost only two players who would have been in the mix this year [Jacques-Louis Potgieter and Richardt Strauss].

"The plans are in place, there's continuity and there's momentum from the Currie Cup [where the Cheetahs played in the Final] and even from Griquas' point of few, they had a good Currie Cup. That will add to that momentum.

"Another positive is that these guys all have an extra year of [Super Rugby] experience under the belt.

"A guy like [Griquas scrumhalf] Sarel Pretorius played the entire [Super 14] season last year.

"They know what the Super 14 is all about and we will be better prepared in terms of what to expect.

"In term of experience - Meyer Bosman will most likely reach his 50 Super Rugby caps this year, Corne Uys and myself both have almost 30 games behind our names. There's quite a few guys who have been through the mil for a few seasons already and that experience is something you can't buy.

"Just look at the success of the Boks if you want to see what experience can do for you."

Knee will hold up

Olivier, who said he felt "a bit tired" after a few tough days of tough training, is confident his knee troubles are something of the past.

"The knee is feeling good and I am looking forward to the weekend," he said, adding that the tiredness is because it's been a while since he worked this hard with the team in training - having been sidelined for four weeks.

He said he is looking forward to the to playing Super Rugby again - after having played for the Stormers in 2006/07 and then the last four matches for the Cheetahs in 2009 - which included a win over the Crusaders last year.

"This is where you want to play, so you can measure yourself against the best.

"After last year's Currie Cup this is the next step [up] and it will be great."

The former Potchefstroom student, who started his provincial career at the Leopards in 2005, not only joined the Stormers for two years, but also had a five-month stint in France in 2008. He then joined up with Griquas, where he has been a stalwart for the Kimberley-based outfit - so much so that he is now the Cheetahs' first choice at flyhalf.

Olivier said the game-time he got at Griquas is what helped him improve his game.

"Every player wants to be the first choice, but not everybody has the patience to wait for the opportunities," he said, adding: "I have always been a player who enjoyed being on the playing and making a contribution on the field, and at Griquas I got that opportunity [more game time]. It is nice to be near the front of the queue at the Cheetahs as well this year."

He said the injury was a freak accident at training.

"I was in peak condition," Olivier said.

"It didn't even happen in contact. From nowhere I ruptured my cartilage on the training field and that ruled me out for four weeks.

"If you were in peak condition and then have to sit on the sideline for four weeks can be very frustrating, but it happens and is part of the game - everybody suffer injuries at some stage.

"The key is to stay positive and get your head in the game."