East-Londen. - In what must be regarded as a huge setback for the Border Bulldogs, impressive flanker Dumisani Meslane is out with a shoulder injury and won't be turning out against the Pumas on Friday evening.

The Bulldogs, who went down 30-14 to the Griffons last Friday night, play the Pumas in Witbank in a Currie Cup first division match at 7pm. The unavailability of Meslane, who played a storming all-round game against the Griffons, has meant a reshuffle of the back three with captain Solly Tyibilika moving from eighthman to flank where he joins Shaun Raubenheimer.

Lyndon Hartnick, a new signing from Cape Town, slots in at eighthman. In the frontrow, Patrick Mulumba comes in at loosehead with Black Mtimka moving to the bench while Emerging Springbok Greg van Jaarsveld returns at hooker.

An ankle injury to left wing Dylan Swarts means Jovan Bowles makes the starting XV while Fort Hare's Bongani Mtutu earns his first cap on the right wing as Andisa Gqobo is down with flu. The ability of hard-working Buffalo flanker Alfie Smith has been recognised and he's among the reserves where he's joined by scrumhalf Marvin Pringle, who gets the nod ahead of Denver du Plessis who had a run on last Friday.
  

Commenting on some of the selections, Bulldogs coach Humphrey Nojoko said the selectors had been impressed with prop Mlumba's work-rate while Mtutu is seen as an exciting prospect on the wing.

"I coached Smith (Alfie) when he turned out for the Border Aloes and he gives it everything," he said.

BULLDOGS: Russell Jeacocks; Jovan Bowles, Thabo Ratyana, Jeffrey Taljaard, Bongani Mtutu; Stuart Hudson (v-capt), Yongama Mkaza; Lyndon Hartnick, Shaun Raubenheimer, Solly Tyibilika (capt), Andries Kruger, Nomani Tonga, Brett Nel, Greg van Jaarsveld, Patrick Mlumba. Reserves:
Mathew Taljaard, Lonwabo Mtimka, Buhle Mxunyelwa, Alfie Smith, Marvin Pringle, Sam Willard, Lincoln Redcliffe. - Sapa