Pienaar reported for training at the Cheetahs on Monday and has been named on the bench in the place of Dian Badenhorst.

The outside back, Tapiwa Mafura, will also be on debut in the match when he runs out on the wing in the place of William Small-Smith.

Small-Smith was a late withdrawal from the team on Thursday morning after a training ground incident ruled him out of the clash.

During the captain's run on Thursday, Small-Smith, collapse and needed to to be resuscitated before being rushed to a hospital. While it was a huge scare for the team, Small-Smith, is doing well. 

Upfront, Ox Nche will start at loosehead prop after he was a late withdrawal ahead of the 68-14 victory over the Griquas a week earlier.

Marnus van der Merwe comes in on the flank, with Abongile Nonkontwana moving to the bench.

Pienaar told OFM Sport that he is looking forward to his debut on Friday evening.

“I’ve acclimatised as much as I can since Monday and it is very exciting for me. It is a special group of players which coach Franco is leading pretty well.

“I’ve only been here for a few days and I can already see that there is a special vibe between the players. I am excited to be a part of that, and obviously very excited to be involved on Friday night.

“My last Currie Cup game was back in 2010 when I will still at the Sharks, and it was at this ground. I remember still being tackled by Coenie Oosthuizen and injured my shoulder in the process.”

Friday evening’s game at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 19:15.

Toyota Free State Cheetahs – 15 Darren Adonis, 14 Tapiwa Mafura, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Dries Swanepoel, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer (captain), 8 Henco Venter, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Marnus van der Merwe, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ox Nche.

Replacements – 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Reinach Venter, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Abongile Nonkontwana, 21 Gerhard Olivier, 22 Ruan Pienaar, 23 Louis Fouché.

Golden Lions – 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jan-Louis la Grange, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Ross Cronje (captain), 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Pieter Jansen, 1 Sti Sithole.

Replacements - 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Leo Kruger, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 James Venter, 21 Len Massyn, 22 Dillon Smit, 23 Manuel Rass.