Blommetjies sustained an injury during training on Tuesday and at this stage he is still 50/50. The Cheetahs do have options to cover at fullback this weekend in the event of an enforced change. The side can opted to use either Craig Barry or Malcolm Jaer who are both recognised fullbacks.

The pair has played the majority of their games on the wing for the Cheetahs, however, Barry has actually made his biggest impact for the team while playing right at the back.

With Niel Marais having started at flyhalf last week, Fred Zeilinga, can be named in the back three as was the case against Zebre in Parma earlier in the season, when Ernst Stapelberg was the teams’ pivot.

It is however highly unlikely that the coach Rory Duncan will go this route. There is a better chance of Zeilinga warming the bench again on Saturday.

There will change to the team in the backrow this week. OFM Sport has it on good authority that there will be a change among the loose forwards, and this will be most likely the Springbok Uzair Cassiem making way in the starting XV for most probably Tier Schoeman.

In the front-row Luan de Bruin appears to be unavailable are sustaining an injury during his debut last week. Günther Janse van Vuuren has flown in as cover and will most probably play off the bench, with Aranos Coetzee starting.

These two sides have met just once in the past and that was back in September when the Cheetahs beat the Ospreys 45-22 at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.

Saturday evening’s game at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea kicks off at 19:30. This match will not be televised in Wales or in South Africa.

Likely Cheetahs side – 15 Craig Barry, 14 Rabs Maxwane / Luther Obi, 13 Francois Venter (captain), 12 Nico Lee, 11 Malcolm Jaer, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Tier Schoeman, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Ox Nche. 

Replacements – 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Günther Janse van Vuuren, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Uzair Cassiem, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Fred Zeilinga, Rabs Maxwane / Luther Obi.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport