Super Rugby newcomers the Southern Kings are welcoming the challenge of testing themselves against the defending champion Chiefs on Friday.

The Port Elizabeth side won their first ever match against the Western Force and had a bye the following week before they suffered their first loss of the season against the Sharks last weekend.

The 12-21 defeat at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, however, have done little damage to the Kings’ confidence and they are eager to evaluate their strength, depth and development against the defending champions.

Lock Darron Nell, who will once again captain the side in Luke Watson’s injury-enforced absence, said they are looking forward to the game and will be focusing on their own game instead of getting caught up in overanalysing the opposition.

“Last week we had the Sharks and this week we have the Chiefs, the two finalists from last year. I think we just want to concentrate on our processes and make sure that they work well and I think the results will look after themselves,” said Nell.

“Without a doubt it’s going to be a tough game but we just want to look at ourselves and make sure we can do what we can do properly,” he added.

Head coach Matt Sexton said they will need to be technically sound and accurate with their execution against the clinical Chiefs.

“They have good depth right across the board, so I think looking at their squad, whatever team they put out will be pretty solid at scrum time too, we will have a bit of a job on our hands and look forward to the challenge,” said Sexton .

“They have threats right across the board. They’re pretty clinical when you turn over the ball or on a miscued kick or things like that. We want to be nice and tidy with what we do and I think that if we do that we’ll present a good challenge to them,” he said.