Tinus de Beer starts at flyhalf in one of six changes to Cardiff’s lineup for Saturday’s match against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
The 29-year-old, who will leave the Welsh club at the end of the season, forms a halfback partnership with another South African, Johan Mulder.
De Beer began his senior provincial career at the Bulls, before stints with Griquas and the Pumas.
In changes to the Cardiff pack, loosehead prop Corey Domachowski and hooker Evan Lloyd come into the front row, while Rory Thornton partners Josh McNally in the second row.
In the back row, James Botham switches back to openside flank, with Alex Mann and Alun Lawrence packing down at blindside flank and No 8 respectively.
Cardiff are coming off a confidence-boosting 26-21 home win against Munster that propelled them to fifth on the Vodacom URC log.
“It’s great to go into this final two weeks in South Africa with so much to play for and we are determined to cement our place in the URC playoffs,” said coach Matt Sherratt, who has again opted for a 6-2 split on the bench.
“It would be the first time we have reached the playoffs, which would be a huge achievement given the journey we are on and qualification for the Champions Cup is the reward.
“We will be doing everything possible to stay in that top eight but we are well aware of how tough the next two weeks will be.
“It all starts on Saturday against the Bulls, who are a quality side and will be hugely motivated to secure a top seeding. They have a big, powerful set piece and pack, as you would expect, with some really dangerous players behind.
“But we have prepared well, we are looking forward to the challenge and experience of two weeks in South Africa and we will not go down wondering.”
CARDIFF – 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Harri Millard, 12 Ben Thomas (c), 11 Gabe Hamer-Webb, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Alun Lawrence, 7 James Botham, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Evan Lloyd, 1 Corey Domachowski.
Bench: 16 Liam Belcher, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Rhys Litterick, 19 Teddy Williams, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Taulupe Faletau, 22 Aled Davies, 23 Rory Jennings.
Photo: Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
