In the backline, Malcolm Jaer, will start on the wing, Dries Swanepoel at outside centre, and Ruan Pienaar returns to captain the side.

In the pack, Aidon Davids, starts at eighthman, while in the frontrow, Khutha Mchunu and Cameron Dawson will start at prop.

The bench sees debuts for Jean Droste and Brandon Thomson.

The Springbok flanker, Oupa Mohoje, has also been named on the bench for the game.

Cheetahs coach, Hawies Fourie, told OFM Sport that it will help Thomson to make his debut with Pienaar and Frans Steyn on either side of him.

“It will defiantly make a difference and it will help is preparations. He will know that he won't have to make all the calls and the decisions, they will help him with that.

“They will control the kicking game as well, so he can just focus on his job.

“He trained well last week in all the sessions because Reinhardt Fortuin was injured.

“He had a good run during the week and he slotted in quite nicely into our pattern and how we want to play.”

Wednesday’s game at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 19:00.

Toyota Cheetahs - 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Malcolm Jaer, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Aidon Davis, 7 George Cronjé, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Cameron Dawson.

Replacements - 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Beertjie van Vuuren, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Jean Droste, 20 Oupa Mohoje, 21 Brandon Thomson, 22 Tian Meyer, 23 Chris Smit.

Sharks - 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Thaakir Abrahams, 13 Jeremy Ward (captain), 12 Murray Koster, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Jordan Chait, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 JJ van der Mescht, 3 John-Hubert Meyer, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Khwezi Mona.

Replacements - 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Michael Kumbirai, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Werner Kok.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport