Adriaan Carelse comes in at fullback in the place of Darren Adonis, who in turn moves to the left wing. Jamba Ulengo, who has been a regular in the number 11 jersey moves across the field to the right wing. This is all due to the absence of the fleet-footed Tapiwa Mafura.

No changes have been made to the pack for this week, however, the one changes on the bench sees the replacement prop, Cameron Dawson, making way for the loose-forward, Daniel Maartens.

Free State will be looking to build on their momentum during this match after returning to winning ways on Sunday with a 49-12 victory over the Eastern Province Elephants in Mossel Bay.

To date, SWD has lost to both Western and Eastern Province, while their only victory as a 31-30 win over the Zimbabwe Academy side. This game against the neighbours from the north was also played in Mossel Bay.

The Free State coach, Izak van der Westhuizen, told OFM Sport that will regard Saturday game as a field.

“We will be looking to build on the momentum from the past weekend.

“Although there were positives in the match against the EP there were a couple of work-ons as well.

“We are not going to take them lightly, they are a good side and we will be preparing for them as if it is another final.

“It’s going to be a good week and we are looking forward to it.”

Kick-off at the Clive Solomon Stadium in Heidedal is at 14:30.

Toyota Free State XV - 15 Adriaan Carlese, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Carel Jan Coetzee, 12 Marlou van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Ernst Stapelberg, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Marnus van der Merwe, 6 Otsile Ranthako, 5 Keanan Murray, 4 Sibabalo Qoma, 3 Erich de Jager, 2 Elandré Huggett, 1 Boan Venter.

Replacements – 16 Janus Venter, 17 Quintin Vorster, 18 Luyolo Dapula, 19 Bertie de Bod, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Dian Badenhorst, 22 Lubabalo Dobela.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport