A number of Springbok call-ups have forced Western Province to make changes for their Currie Cup encounter against Griquas in Kimberley on Friday.
With four players who featured in the win against the Pumas joining the Springbok squad this week, WP head coach John Dobson has had to tweak things for the trip to Kimberley.
A fit-again SP Marais lines up at fullback in place of Dillyn Leyds in the only change to the starting backline, while Damian Willemse will make his return from injury from the replacements bench.
In the loose trio, JD Schickerling is back at blindside flank, with Ernst van Rhyn shifting back to the openside.
Salmaan Moerat is at lock alongside captain Chris van Zyl, while upfront prop Carlu Sadie and hooker Chad Solomon come in for Wilco Louw and Scarra Ntubeni.
Promising Under-21 hooker Schalk Erasmus is set to make his WP debut from the replacements bench, with lock David Meihuizen and scrumhalf Paul de Wet also coming into the match-day 23.
Dobson said his team has embraced the challenge of going up to Kimberley and putting in a big performance.
“We know that we will have to work incredibly hard if we are going to get the result we want in Kimberley, so there will certainly be no lack of motivation.
“We have lost a few good players, but we also have some very talented players coming back, so we are looking forward to seeing what they can do,” he said.
Western Province team:
15 SP Marais, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Josh Stander, 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 JD Schickerling, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements:
16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Damian Willemse, 23 Edwill van der Merwe
African News Agency