The Sharks side will be bolstered by the inclusion of two Springbok front-rowers for Saturday’s Currie Cup clash with the Golden Lions at Kings Park.
The return to action of Thomas du Toit and Coenie Oosthuizen (the latter off the bench) should play some part in calming a young side and their inclusion couldn’t come at a better side as the Sharks look to finish off the pool stages of the competition in winning style.
The Sharks see just two changes to the team that defeated the Pumas in their last match. In the front-row, Du Toit comes in for John-Hubert Meyer at tighthead prop while Curwin Bosch returns to the full-back position, rotating once more with Aphelele Fassi who made his run-on debut against the Pumas.
Oosthuizen makes his much-awaited return in the number 17 jersey after a long-term injury while Ruben van Heerden, the newly-signed 20-year-old Bulls and SA U20 lock who has joined the Sharks on a three-year contract will look to earn his debut off the bench.
Sharks: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 Luke Stringer, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Gideon Koegelenberg, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle (c), 1 Juan Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Ruben van Heerden, 19 Jacques Vermeulen, 20 Cameron Wright, 21 Sibusiso Nkosi, 22 Aphelele Fassi
Date: Saturday, September 22
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17:15 local (16:15 BST, 15:15 GMT)
Referee: Egon Seconds
Assistant referees: Archie Sehlako, Blake Beattie
TMO: Shaun Veldsman