The centre, Evardi Boshoff, has been named in the starting XV for the game, while the former Maties captain, David Brits, is on the bench along with the new scrumhalf from UWC, Branden de Kock.

Derik Pretorius, who had an outstanding campaign for the CUT Ixias during the Varsity Cup, earns a first start for the Cheetahs as well.

The new flyhalf, Siya Masuku, who played at outside centre against the EP Elephants, last week told OFM Sport that there is good competition within the team.

“There are really good players in all the positions that I play in. At flyhalf or at fullback it's really tough, but it's actually good for any team.

“If you have tight competition, it can be very good for the team, because in everything the players do, they just want to get the best out of their teammates and this is good for the team environment.”

Friday’s game at Tafel Lager Park kicks off at 12:30.

Toyota Cheetahs - 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Aidon Davis, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Jacques Potgieter, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Cameron Dawson.

Replacements - 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Brandon Fortuin, 20 Chris Massyn, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 David Brits, 24 Branden de Kock, 25 Siya Masuku, 26 Luhan Potgieter, 27 Gideon van Wyk.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport