There are five games scheduled to take place on Saturday in the PRO14 with Connacht versus Scarlets and Leinster versus Edinburgh the pick of them.
Kings vs Glasgow Warriors
The Kings are boosted by the return to fitness of flanker CJ Velleman, who will start from the bench against Glasgow Warriors in Port Elizabeth.
There are five changes in personnel changes and two positional switches, with Martin du Toit joining Rudi van Rooyen in the half-backs while Masixole Banda moves to full-back.
The back-row sees Ruaan Lerm and Henry Brown come in for Martinus van Schalkwyk and Steph de Wit, while Bobby de Wee comes in at lock for Schalk Oelofse.
Having made his return from injury off the bench against the Cheetahs last weekend, Huw Jones starts for Glasgow Warriors.
Jones is one of nine changes to the starting XV that won 52-24 in Bloemfontein and he is joined in midfield by Nick Grigg who has recovered from illness to start.
It is an unchanged back-three, with DTH van der Merwe and Tommy Seymour, who both scored against the Cheetahs, starting either side of Ruairdh Jackson.
Pete Horne moves inside to fly-half and is partnered by Nick Frisby who makes his first competitive start for the club.
It is a brand new front-row as Jamie Bhatti and D’Arcy Rae pack down either side of George Turner.
Greg Peterson comes into the second-row to partner Scott Cummings while behind them Ryan Wilson captains the side wearing number six. Chris Fusaro and Adam Ashe are his loose forward partners.
The teams:
Kings: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Harlon Klassen, 12 Berton Klassen, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Martin du Toit, 9 Rudi van Rooyen, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Andisa Ntsila, 6 Henry Brown, 5 JC Astle, 4 Bobby de Wee, 3 Luvuyo Pupuma, 2 Michael Willemse (c), 1 Schalk Ferreira
Replacements: 16 Alandre van Rooyen, 17 Justin Forwood, 18 Martin Dreyer, 19 Stephan Greeff, 20 CJ Velleman, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Ntabeni Dukisa, 23 Michael Botha
Glasgow: 15 Ruaridh Jackson, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Nick Grigg, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Pete Horne, 9 Nick Frisby, 8 Adam Ashe, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Ryan Wilson (c), 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Greg Peterson, 3 D’Arcy Rae, 2 George Turner, 1 Jamie Bhatti
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Alex Allan, 18 Kevin Bryce, 19 Rob Harley, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 Ali Price, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Robbie Nairn
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Kick-off: 15:00 local (14:00 BST, 13:00 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Frank Murphy (Ireland), Paul Mente (South Africa)
Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Connacht vs Scarlets
Back-row Robin Copeland is set to make his Connacht debut as Andy Friend’s side take on Scarlets in the PRO14 in the Sportsground on Saturday.
Copeland’s inclusion is one of six changes to the Connacht side that took on Edinburgh last weekend. Irish international Bundee Aki is also included in the starting XV having come off the bench in Murrayfield to make his first appearance of the season. Aki forms a midfield partnership with Tom Farrell who returns after recovering from a stomach bug that ruled him out last weekend.
Winger Cian Kelleher is named on the wing and is part of a back three that includes Matt Healy on the opposite wing and Tiernan O’Halloran at full-back.
Prop Denis Buckley is back in at loosehead to make his third start of the season while Gavin Thornbury is named alongside Quinn Roux in the second-row.
Copeland’s inclusion at number eight sees him named in a back row that also features team captain Jarrad Butler at openside and blindside Sean O’Brien.
Meanwhile, Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac has been able to call on the expertise of fly-half Rhys Patchell as he makes a return to the field, having suffered a concussion in the clash against Leinster at Parc y Scarlets in Round 2.
Patchell is in the only change to the backline that faced Benetton at the Parc last weekend. He has been forced to make one change to the pack with James Davies unavailable after sustaining a knee injury last weekend.
Loose forward Lewis Rawlins comes in to the forwards pack alongside Ed Kennedy and Blade Thomson in the back-row.
South African import Uzair Cassiem makes a return from a calf injury, sustained during the pre-season friendly against Bath, and takes his place on the replacements bench looking to make his competitive debut for the Scarlets.
The teams:
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Cian Kelleher, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Robin Copeland, 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Sean O’Brien, 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Gavin Thornbury, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Peter McCabe, 18 Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Colby Fainga’a, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Craig Ronaldson, 23 Niyi Adeolokun
Scarlets: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Tom Prydie, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Johnny McNicholl, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Lewis Rawlins, 6 Ed Kennedy, 5 Steve Cummins, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Ken Owens (c), 1 Phil Price
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 David Bulbring, 20 Uzair Cassiem, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Angus O’Brien, 23 Paul Asquith
Venue: Sportsground
Kick-off: 17:15 BST (16:15 GMT)
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant referees: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy), Kieran Barry (Ireland)
Television match official: Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Dragons vs Zebre
Dragons head coach Bernard Jackman makes a total of four changes to the side that were defeated at Leinster for this home encounter.
Robson takes the 10 jersey for the visit of the Italians, to form a new-look half-back pairing with scrum-half Rhodri Williams.
Jared Rosser – fresh from his five-try heroics against Connacht Eagles in the Celtic Cup – will also make his first appearance of the season, replacing the injured Hallam Amos.
Two changes in the pack see a call-up for lock Rynard Landman – who partners captain Cory Hill in the second-row – while Ollie Griffiths returns in the back-row.
Prop Aaron Jarvis could also make his first appearance for the Dragons after recovering from a bicep injury to take his place among the replacements.
Meanwhile, Zebre have named a starting XV that includes nine Italian internationals who were part of the June tour to Japan.
There are four changes in all to the side as, after making a great impact from the bench last week, captain Tommaso Castello, flanker Giovanni Licata and hooker Oliviero Fabiani are back as starters.
South African Francois Brummer will earn his first start in his third PRO14 game, playing at full-back.
The teams:
Dragons: 15 Jordan Williams, 14 Dafydd Howells, 13 Adam Warren, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Jared Rosser, 10 Arwel Robson, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Ollie Griffiths, 6 Aaron Wainwright, 5 Cory Hill (c), 4 Rynard Landman, 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Brok Harris
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Brandon Nansen, 20 Nic Cudd, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Josh Lewis, 23 Jarryd Sage
Zebre: 15 Francois Brummer, 14 Mattia Bellini, 13 Giulio Bisegni, 12 Tommaso Castello (c), 11 Edoardo Padovani, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Marcello Violi, 8 Giovanni Licata, 7 Johan Meyer, 6 Jimmy Tuivaiti, 5 George Biagi (c), 4 David Sisi, 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Oliviero Fabiani, 1 Andrea Lovotti
Replacements: 16 Massimo Ceciliani, 17 Daniele Rimpelli, 18 Giosué Zilocchi, 19 Apisai Tauyavuca, 20 Matu Tevi, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Tommaso Boni, 23 Gabriele Di Giulio
Venue: Rodney Parade
Kick-off: 17:15 BST (16:15 GMT)
Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Simon Mills (Wales)
Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Leinster vs Edinburgh
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made one positional change from last week as well as bringing in a number of fresh faces to his 23.
Jordan Larmour wins his 25th cap for Leinster and moves from the right wing to full-back, with Fergus McFadden coming in at 14 and James Lowe also coming in on the left wing.
It’s as you were in the centre with Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose again selected as 12 and 13.
Captain Johnny Sexton leads the team on the occasion of his 150th cap for the province, with Luke McGrath in the number nine jersey.
In the pack Cian Healy again starts at loosehead prop with James Tracy and Michael Bent coming in to complete the front-row.
Devin Toner comes into the second-row to partner James Ryan.
In the back-row like Larmour, Max Deegan will also win his 25th cap in the RDS and he is the only change there with Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan again in the seven and eight jerseys.
On the replacements bench Dan Leavy is in line to make his first appearance of the season having returned from injury.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill has made nine changes to his team.
As several internationalists – including Ross Ford, Allan Dell and Magnus Bradbury – are rotated into the match-day squad, the starting XV includes just six players that started in the 17-10 victory over Connacht last weekend.
Dougie Fife, Duhan van der Merwe, Jaco van der Walt, Ben Toolis, Luke Hamilton and Jamie Ritchie are all once again selected as Edinburgh look to secure their first away victory of the season.
Full-back, Fife, completes the back-three alongside wingers Van der Merwe and Jamie Farndale. The Scotland Sevens star makes his first appearance for Edinburgh since his debut as a replacement against Cardiff Blues in April 2012.
In the midfield, Chris Dean returns from injury to partner summer recruit Juan Pablo Socino, who makes his first competitive start for the club. Van der Walt continues at stand-off, while Sean Kennedy makes his first start of the campaign at scrum-half.
A new look front-row sees 110-times capped Scotland international hooker Ford pack down alongside Allan Dell and Simon Berghan, while Fraser McKenzie – named as captain – and Toolis form the second-row.
After a replacement appearance from the bench against Connacht last weekend, Bradbury is named at number eight, with Ritchie and Hamilton completing a combative back-row.
The teams:
Leinster: 15 Jordan Larmour, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Max Deegan, 5 James Ryan, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Michael Bent, 2 James Tracy, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements: 16 Seán Cronin, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Mick Kearney, 20 Dan Leavy, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Joe Tomane
Edinburgh:15 Dougie Fife, 14 Jamie Farndale, 13 Chris Dean, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Sean Kennedy, 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Jamie Ritchie, 6 Luke Hamilton, 5 Ben Toolis, 4 Fraser McKenzie (c), 3 Simon Berghan, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Dell
Replacements: 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Callum Hunter-Hill, 20 Luke Crosbie, 21 Nathan Fowles, 22 Simon Hickey, 23 James Johnstone
Venue: RDS
Kick-off: 19:35 BST (18:35 GMT)
Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Chris Busby (Ireland)
Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Ospreys vs Benetton Rugby
Ospreys have made 11 changes for the visit of Benetton, with Joe Thomas, Luke Morgan, Sam Davies and Tom Botha the only players remaining from the side that played Munster.
Internationals George North, Aled Davies, Justin Tipuric, Dan Lydiate and Alun Wyn Jones all return to the XV as the Welsh region attempt to secure their third victory of the season.
Allen Clarke’s men began the campaign with successive triumphs but that run was ended by the Irish province last weekend.
Meanwhile, Benetton have named Luca Sperandio at full-back, with Tommaso Benvenuti and Monty Ioane taking their place on the wings. Marco Zanon and captain Alberto Sgarbi will be the centres.
The half-backs are Dewaldt Duvenage and Antonio Rizzi, while the front-row will consist of Cherif Traore, Luca Bigi and Simone Ferrari.
At lock will be Alessandro Zanni and Federico Ruzza, with the back-row seeing Sebastian Negri, Abraham Steyn and Marco Barbini completing the XV.
The teams:
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 George North, 13 Joe Thomas, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Luke Morgan, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Aled Davies, 8 James King, 7 Justin Tipuric (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Scott Otten, 1 Nicky Smith
Replacements: 16 Ifan Phillips, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Ma’afu Fia, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Sam Cross, 21 Tom Habberfield, 22 James Hook, 23 Cory Allen
Benetton Rugby: 15 Luca Sperandio, 14 Tommaso Benvenuti, 13 Marco Zanon, 12 Alberto Sgarbi (c), 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Antonio Rizzi, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Marco Barbini, 7 Abraham Steyn, 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Alessandro Zanni, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Cherif Traore
Replacements: 16 Engjel Makelara, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Giuseppe Di Stefano, 19 Marco Fuser, 20 Marco Lazzaroni, 21 Edoardo Gori, 22 Ian McKinley, 23 Tommaso Iannone
Venue: Liberty Stadium
Kick-off: 19:35 BST (18:35 GMT)
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Fin Brown (Scotland), Wayne Davies (Wales)
Television match official: Tim Hayes (Wales)