The Toyota Cheetahs flyhalf, Abner van Reenen, is relishing the opportunity for a rare start on Saturday when they host Eastern Province in round four of the SA Cup.

Van Reenen has been named as the backline marshall and he will form the halfback combination with Rewan Kruger.

The former Stormers and Rovigo pivot earned a late promotion to the match-23 on Saturday for the EPCR Challenge Cup round of 16 game against Clermont in France. During the warm-ups ahead of the game Reinhardt Fortuin was pulled out with a back injury and this saw Andell Loubser getting bumped up from the bench into a starting role at inside centre.

Van Reenen in turn was player number 24 and at the 11th hour found himself on the bench and he stood his man when he came on as a replacement late in the game.

This week he starts for the Cheetahs, while Loubser has been named as the starting inside centre.

Van Reenen told OFM Sport that he looks forward to the opportunity and he wants to make it count.

“It will be an amazing challenge for me to do my thing on Saturday,” said Van Reenen.

“Playing time hasn't come as often as I would have wanted to, but for me it has been all about staying in the right mindset, training well, staying focused and believing that my time will come. I'm such that on Saturday I will show everyone what I can do.

“Last week it was the same - I didn't think that I was going to play and then I got on to the bench and played for 25 minutes. I couldn't have asked for anything better than that.

“To me it's about staying positive and living in the moment. It's been a while since I've played flyhalf and I'm looking forward to the challenge.”

George Lourens, who has been more of a regular starter in the number ten jersey of late, will be playing off the bench on Saturday.

Meanwhile, there was a late change to the team with the Springbok Oupa Mohoje withdrawing because of a calf injury. Thabang Mahlasi, who was the captain against the Pumas moves from the bench to flank, while Friedle Olivier, has been named among the replacements.

Saturday’s game between the Cheetahs and Elephants at the Toyota Stadium will kick-off at 15:00.

Toyota Cheetahs - 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Banie Britz, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Andell Loubser, 11 Litha Nkula, 10 Abner van Reenen, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Siba Qoma, 7 Thabang Mahlasi, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Justin Forwood, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Cameron Dawson

Replacements - 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Friedle Olivier, 21 Sisonke Vumazonke, 22 Marko Janse van Vuren, 23 George Lourens

Eastern Province - 15 Xolela Payi, 14 Damian Swanepoel, 13 Riaan Arends (captain), 12 Sherwin Slater, 11 JD Jooste, 10 Ruben de Vos, 9 Wayne Ngubane, 8 Laken Gray, 7 Gerrit Huisamen, 6 Diego Williams, 5 Lungisile Mbiko, 4 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 3 Andile Ngonyama, 2 Sitembiso Befile, 1 Siya Nzuzo

Replacements - 16 Deon Plaatjies, 17 Zuki Sali, 18 Keenan Frieslaar, 19 Ayabonga Nomboyo, 20 Sanwell Jacobs, 21 Atenkosi Manentsa, 22 Marvin Kampher, 23 Ayabonga Oliphant

Morgan Piek OFM Sport