Ulster captain Iain Henderson believes the province will nonetheless see one of the best of Steven Kitshoff regardless of his unsure future.
Kitshoff solely arrived final November, weeks after profitable the Rugby World Cup for a second time with South Africa.
It has been reported the 32-year-old may return to the Stormers this summer time after just one season at Kingspan Stadium.
“I do know he is an extremely skilled,” mentioned Henderson.
“We’ll expect nothing totally different from him working by this week and looking out ahead to an thrilling sport on the weekend,” added Ulster captain Henderson.
Defeat towards his former facet in Cape City final weekend was simply Kitshoff’s twelfth sport in Ulster colors, of which the facet have received 4 and misplaced eight.
Regardless of the combined outcomes, Henderson believes the prop has been an asset since his arrival solely 5 months in the past.
“He is been sensible for us,” mentioned Henderson. “He is been sensible for lots of younger lads in that scrum setting, across the park.
“He is been filling the boots that he is placed on the worldwide area earlier than.
“We have seen him getting over a load of excellent balls, carrying effectively, being unbelievable in his chop deal with and defence.”
Talking earlier than the United Rugby Championship ultimate in June final 12 months, Kitshoff had referred to as the competition his “ultimate [Stormers] sport for now”.
“I can at all times come again to the Stormers and I’ll at all times preserve that door open,” he added, earlier than his facet’s loss to Munster within the league decider.
Since then, the monetary photos at his present and former golf equipment has modified considerably.
Western Province Rugby Soccer Union accomplished an fairness take care of the Purple Disa Consortium in March.
Ulster, in the meantime, have been coping with well-documented monetary constraints and posted losses of greater than £900,000 final season.
Fly-half Billy Burns has to date been the most important title confirmed to be leaving the facet this summer time, with the previous Irish worldwide poised to affix Munster for subsequent season.
Extra gamers will comply with on the finish of a marketing campaign the place each head coach Dan McFarland and CEO Jonny Petrie have additionally departed.
Amid such uncertainty, Henderson doesn’t see discuss of Kitshoff’s exit being a distraction earlier than the resumption of European motion this weekend.
Ulster will tackle Montpellier on the GGL Stadium on Sunday afternoon within the final 16 of the Problem Cup.
“There’s an enormous quantity of hypothesis that goes on far and wide,” added Henderson.
“Not solely Steven’s place or the gamers’ positions nevertheless it comes with the territory {of professional} sport.
“I sat down and had dinner with Steven in the course of final week, a handful of us.
“I do not see it being any subject that we are able to foresee or that we’ll learn into an excessive amount of between now and enjoying the sport on the weekend.”
That is Ulster’s second time within the second-tier European competitors with the province having reached the semi-finals in 2021, solely to be overwhelmed by Leicester Tigers at Welford Highway.
However as they search a primary trophy of any form since 2006, Henderson says now isn’t the time to be speaking about profitable competitions.
“The place we’re on the minute, we have now to take it sport by sport,” he mentioned.
“I am not going to say we’ll go and win the Problem Cup. Sure, it might be nice to try this however I am not going to get forward of ourselves.
“We’ve got quite a lot of issues that want fixing earlier than we go making statements like that.”