There will be a debut in the backrow for the former Springbok, Jacques Potgieter.

In the backline, Rhyno Smith, Howard Mnisi and Craig Barry all earn a start, with Clayton Blommetjies rested due to illness, while Frans Steyn and Rosko Specman rotate to the bench.

A new loose-trio will be fielded with Oupa Mohoje and Chris Massyn starting alongside Potgieter, while Aidon Davis moves to the bench.

Victor Sekekete earns a start in the second-row where he will partner Carl Wegner.

In the frontrow, Aranos Coetzee runs out at tighthead prop, and Marnus van der Merwe starts at hooker ahead of Wilmar Arnoldi.

The bench sees the seasoned campaigner, Schalk Ferreira, return from his groin injury, while the lock, Rynier Bernardo, has also been named among the replacements.

Friday’s game between the Pumas and Cheetahs at the Mbombela Stadium kicks off at 16:45.

Toyota Cheetahs - 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Malcolm Jaer, 13 Chris Smit, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Craig Barry, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Jacques Potgieter, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Chris Massyn, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Cameron Dawson.

Replacements – 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Beertjie van Vuuren, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Rosko Specman.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport