The Sharks have made five changes for Saturday's showdown with the Crusaders in Christchurch.

There are three personal changes and two positional switches to the side that lost to the Brumbies last week.

After playing at lock in recent weeks, Willem Alberts starts at eighthman while Tera Mtembu gets a start at openside flank, meaning Ryan Kankowski and Keegan Daniel drop to the bench.

Etienne Oosthuizen comes into the second row, while Jannie du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira will win their 100th caps in an unchanged front row.

SP Marais returns to the starting line-up at fullback with Lwazi Mvovo moving to the left wing ahead of Odwa Ndungane in the only change to the backline.

The Crusaders have made three changes, but skipper Kieran Read is absent for the third straight match as he continues his recovery from concussion.

Tom Taylor starts at fullback as Israel Dagg is rested. In the second row, Dominic Bird comes in for Luke Romano, who is out with a broken ankle.

Scrumhalves Willi Heinz and Andy Ellis have rotated again so that Heinz takes the starting spot for his 50th Crusaders game.

Sharks – 15 SP Marais, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 S'bura Sithole, 12 Paul Jordaan, 11 Lwazi Mvovo ,10 Frans Steyn, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Tera Mtembu, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, (c) 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Keegan Daniel, 21 Charl McLeod, 22 Tim Swiel, 23 Heimar Williams.

Crusaders – 15 Tom Taylor, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Ryan Crotty (c), 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Subs: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 George Whitelock, 21 Andy Ellis, 22 Tyler Bleyendaal, 23 Nafi Tuitavake.

Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty Images