With it being the last round of matches before the play-offs, it is a must-win match for the men from Bloemfontein.

The teams’ only defeat in the competition came two weeks ago when they were beating by the Tafel Larger Griquas at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.

This allowed the side from Kimberley to move to the top of the standings, three points clear of Daan Human’s charges.

The lock Dennis Visser, who has seen limited game time at the Free State the past few seasons, will be making his long-awaited return to the park after recovering from an injury.

Visser will start in the second-row along with Sibabalo Qoma, and he will also be calling the lineouts in the number five jersey.

Justin Basson will be brought onto the park as cover for both Visser and Qoma, and will no doubt make a big impact.

Du Preez, who at 2.09m tall is an imposing figure on the park, misses out before he has flu.

A big blow to the team is the absence of the live-wire flanker, Gerhard Olivier. Olivier has been simply outstanding through their campaign, and he has staked a real claim for the outside-role in the upcoming Currie Cup and Guinness Pro14. He is replaced by Stephan Malan in the starting line-up.

The Springbok scrumhalf, Rudy Paige, who was a late withdrawal ahead of the game against the Griquas, also returns to the starting line-up, and he should also make a difference in the teams attack. He will once again service Ryno Eksteen in the pivot-role in the absence of Ernst Stapelberg.

Stapelberg is still busy recovering from a knee injury.

A win for the Free State is a non-negotiable this week, while they will also be counting on the Griffons to cause an upset in Welkom when they in their turn tackle the Griquas.

The Sharks will keep their play-off hopes alive with a win, while a defeat for the Free State could impact on the final standings on the overall log.

The last time the Free State faces the men from KwaZulu-Natal, they held on for a hard-fought 12-10 victory in Bloemfontein.

Toyota Free State XV - 15 Darren Adonis, 14 Ali Mgijima, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Lloyd Greeff, 11 Vuyani Maqina, 10 Ryno Eksteen, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Stephan Malan, 6 Niell Jordaan, 5 Dennis Visser, 4 Sibabalo Qoma, 3 Luan de Bruyn, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Erich de Jager.

Replacements – 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Gunter Janse van Vuuren, 19 Justin Basson, 20 Ntokozo Vidima, 21 Ruan van Rensburg, 22 Sango Xamlashe.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport