The tighthead prop, Aranos Coetzee, will not be playing for the home side this weekend as he has been called to the Namibian team which will be playing in the Rugby World Cup in Japan next month. Coetzee has been playing for the Cheetahs on borrowed time, and Namibia refuses to allow him to play a further role in the Cheetahs' campaign.

This sees Erich de Jager being recalled to the Cheetahs starting line-up for the semi-final. Ox Nche will start the match after playing off the bench last week. Boan Venter, who played at tighthead against Western Province, has been dropped altogether. Reinach Venter has been recalled to the bench as cover for De Jager.

In the backs, Dries Swanepoel starts at centre again, while William Small-Smith moves back to the wing at the expense of Darren Adonis.

There are no other changes to the team which came from 19-0 down to beat Western Province 38-33 a week prior.

Saturday’s Currie Cup semi-final at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein kicks off at 17:00.

Toyota Free State Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 William Small-Smith, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Dries Swanepoel, 11 Tian Meyer (captain), 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Abongile Nonkontwana, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Erich de Jager, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ox Nche.

Replacements – 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Schalk van der Merwe, 18 Reinach Venter, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Gerhard Olivier, 21 Jasper Wiese, 22 Louis Fouché, 23 Darren Adonis.

Sharks - 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Jeremey Ward, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Tera Mtembu, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Thomas du Toit.

Replacements - 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Andisa Ntsila, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Rhyno Smith, 23 JP Pietersen.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport