Marcell Coetzee starts with fellow co-captain Ruan Nortje in a re-jigged Vodacom Bulls lineup to face Edinburgh at the Hive Stadium on Friday night.
There are a number of changes made to the matchday 23 for the Vodacom URC clash with the exception of the backline, which will see the services of Sergeal Petersen and Sebastian de Klerk retained on the wings with David Kriel and Stedman Gans combining in midfield and Devon Williams retained at fullback.
Scrumhalf Embrose Papier will have Johan Goosen as partner at halfback, with a new-look front row of loosehead prop Gerhard Steenekamp, hooker Johan Grobbelaar and tighthead Wilco Louw. Behind the powerful trio will be the locks Nortje and Ruan Vermaak.
STATE OF THE URC: Bulls first place, Lions first win
Coetzee will run at blindside flank with Elrigh Louw manning the openside position, as Cameron Hanekom looks to continue his impressive start to the season as The Herd’s dominant No 8.
Director of rugby Jake White has opted to deploy a 6-2 split bench once more with Jan-Hendrik Wessels set to feature for the men in blue for the first time this season. Jaco van der Walt, Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Keagan Johannes and Cyle Brink complete the replacements.
Bulls – 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 David Kriel, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (co-capt), 5 Ruan Nortje (co-capt), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Cyle Brink.
Photo: Luca Sighinolfi/INPHO/Shutterstock