“I have played for the Stormers and Western Province for most of my career so it will be a bit strange playing against them,” he says. “But it’s a big game for me and I am really looking forward to it.

“It will also be my first time playing in Dubai so I am particularly looking forward to that – I have been invited to play in the Dubai Sevens before, but couldn’t make it because of international commitments.”

The conditions in Dubai, he says, should allow for an open, fast-flowing match that will test the differences between rugby in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

“The pace of the game is a lot quicker in South Africa as the weather allows you to play different game plans. In the Northern hemisphere it is more of a territorial game, especially when it is cold and raining, so it will be interesting to see how the two styles compare.

“But we will be looking to throw the ball around, and I am sure there will be plenty of tries.”

Despite losing a number of players to the Welsh squad playing England in the opening round of the Six Nations in Cardiff on Saturday, the Dragons have strength in-depth and will be looking to score a victory for the Northern hemisphere at the Dubai Exiles ground on Friday.

“Any game you play you want to win and this will be no exception,” Montgomery says. “We have a few guys on international duty which has given a great opportunity to some of the youngsters in the club who are really excited about playing against such a great team as the Stormers.”