Sias Ebersohn starts at flyhalf for the match, while the exciting Tertius Kruger will make his debut for the side at inside centre.

Zee Mkhabela starts at scrumhalf for the match, while Gerhard Olivier and Niell Jordaan swops roles at the side and the back of the scrum.

Regular captain, Francois Uys, Springbok flank Oupa Mohoje and lock Armandt Koster have all been ruled out through injury.

Francois Venter takes over the captaincy of the side, while Reniel Hugo with deputise from the second row.

The side sees Fred Zeilinga, Shaun Venter, Rayno Benjamin, BG Uys, Boela Serfontein and Neil Rautenbach form a strong bench.

Saturday’s crunch match against the log leaders at the Free State Stadium kicks off at 13:15.

FS Cheetahs - 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter (captain), 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Zee Mkhabela, 8 Gerhard Olivier, 7 Niell Jordaan, 6 Vincent Jobo, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Freddy Ngozo, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Jacques Du Toit, 1 Teunis Nieuwoudt.

Replacements – 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 BG Uys, 18 Boela Serfontein, 19 De Wet Kruger, 20 Rayno Benjamin, 21 Shaun Venter, 22 Fred Zeilinga.

Morgan Piek / OFM News