The Cheetahs have named 13 of the 23 that played in the Currie Cup final in their starting lineup for the first of a four-match series against the Western Force on Friday.
Friday evening’s game, which kicks off at 5pm in Bloemfontein, is the first match of the Toyota Challenge series, which the two teams are using to prepare for the European Challenge Cup and Super Rugby.
It will be the first time that the Cheetahs face the Australian outfit since 2 July 2016 in Bloemfontein.
The Cheetahs have fielded a bulk of their Currie Cup-winning side, with wing Daniel Kasende (knee) and centre Reinhardt Fortuin (shoulder) missing the match due to injury.
Former Shimlas star Litha Nkula will replace Kasende at left wing, while veteran Robert Ebersohn starts at inside centre and forms the midfield with Evardi Boshoff.
Kasende and Fortuin are expected to be ready for the Australian leg of the series in September.
The rest of the starting lineup has a very familiar look to it, with Ruan Pienaar at flyhalf partnering scrumhalf Rewan Kruger, while No 8 Friedle Olivier forms the back row with Siba Qoma and Gideon van der Merwe.
Cheetahs – 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Cohen Jasper 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Lita Nkula, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.
Subs: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Jeandrẻ Rudolph, 22 George Lourens, 23 David Brits.
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix