Injuries have forced coach Franco Smith’s hand with Niell Jordaan and Tertius Kruger being ruled out due to concussion.

Sias Ebersohn starts again at flyhalf with Fred Zeilinga side lined for six weeks while Niel Marais returns to the bench after recovering from his injury.

Shimlas captain and fullback, AJ Coertzen has also recovered and will warm the bench alongside Marais.

Chase Morrison is also among the replacements again and will fill the hooking duties.

With two matches remaining before the semi-finals the competition enters a crucial phase and wins against the Pumas and Sharks will be vital.

Uys told OFM Sport that they are approaching both games as if they are knockout matches. 

Saturday’s match at the Mbombela Stadium kicks off at 13:15.

FS Cheetahs - 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 De Wet Kruger, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Reniel Hugo, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Neil Rautenbach, 1 Teunis Nieuwoudt.

Replacements – 16 Chase Morrison, 17 BG Uys, 18 Boela Serfontein, 19 Freddy Ngoza, 20 Ruan van Rensburg, 21 Niel Marais, 22 AJ Coetzen.

Morgan Piek / OFM News