Cobus Reinach will start at scrumhalf for the Sharks' Currie Cup clash with Western Province at Newlands on Saturday.
His selection is one of a number of backline changes, brought about by Paul Jordaan's season-ending injury. The match will be Reinach's first involvement in the Currie Cup after spending the last few weeks with the Springboks.
Elsewhere in the backline, S'bura Sithole moves inside to take over the No 13 jersey vacated by Jordaan, while Tonderai Chavhanga slots in on the right wing.
There are two further changes up front, as Matt Stevens starts at tighthead prop and Monde Hadebe replaces hooker Kyle Cooper, who has not been passed fit to play.
Should the Golden Lions fail to pick up a victory against the Free State Cheetahs in the earlier match, the Sharks will have the opportunity to move into second spot and secure a home semi-final.
Sharks – 15 SP Marais, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 S’bura Sithole, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Lionel Cronjé, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Tera Mtembu (c), 7 Etienne Oosthuizen, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Monde Hadebe, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Subs: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 JC Astle, 20 Khaya Majola, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Fred Zeilinga.
Photo: Anesh Debiky/BackpagePix
