The 105kg winger, Marcell Muller is in the starting XV, while the loose-forward, Gideon van Wyk will debut off the bench.

Upfront, the loosehead prop, Alulutho Tshakweni, also earns a first run for the team.

Other changes see Craig Barry and Rhyno Smith swopping around, while Ruben de Haas starts at scrumhalf. In the frontrow, Beertjie van Vuuren, runs out at tighthead prop.

The former Springbok, Jacques Potgieter, was set to play lock this week, however, he was a late withdrawal on Friday morning due to a bout of flu.

Oupa Mohoje will also take the captaincy of the team with Ruan Pienaar and Carl Wegner on the bench.

Coach Hawies Fourie, told OFM Sport that he is happy to be able to give the youngsters in the team a chance to play.

“The way EP plays is defiantly distortive, so will have to be clinical, but the two youngsters are looking forward to getting some game time.

“Marcell has trained well the whole week and he has been in the system with us for quite some time, and that goes for Gideon as well.

“Gideon will be on the bench hopefully he will get some game time in the second half.

“We're looking forward to seeing the two of them performing. They have been training with us is last year after the lockdown in June.

“They’ve done all of the fitness and skills with the rest of the team since June.

“I'm glad that we've got the opportunity to give them some game time.”

Sunday’s match at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 15:00.

Toyota Cheetahs - 15 Craig Barry, 14 Rhyno Smith, 13 Chris Smit, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Marcell Muller, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Andisa Ntsila, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Chris Massyn, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Beertjie van Vuuren, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.

Replacements - 16 Janus Venter, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Gideon van Wyk, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Ruan Pienaar, 23 Clayton Blommetjies.

Eastern Province - 15 Courtney Winnaar, 14 Xolela Payi, 13 Athi Mayinye, 12 Sherwin Slater, 11 Josia Twum-Boafo, 10 Inny Radebe (captain), 9 Ethan Jantjies, 8 Luigy van Jaarsveld, Anele Lungisa, 6 CJ Velleman, 5 Arnold Kleyn, 4 Athenkosi Khetani, 3 Marzuq Maarman, 2 Robin Stevens, 1 Siya Nzuzo.

Replacements - 16 Sithembiso Befile, 17 Lyle Lombaard, 18 Emile Klassen, 19 Ntsika Fisante, 20 Diego Williams, 21 Sachin Toring, 22 Divian Swanepoel, 23 Lennox Holster.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport