The Griffons will want to go one better this season after stumbling in the final against the Leopards in Potchefstroom last year.

Duan Pretorius has been named as the captain of the team and he will start at flyhalf on Saturday afternoon. Jaywin Juries will form the halfback combination with the former CUT Ixias player, Pretorius.

Upfront, Dandré Delport, who recently made his Cheetahs debut as the reserve hooker against Western Province, has been named at the tighthead prop for the match.

The 130kg Simon Raw, who played for the Pumas earlier in the year, has been named as front-row cover on the bench.

The coach, Jacques Juries, told OFM Sport that they don’t quite know what to expect from the team from East London.

“We've got a little bit of an idea about them. The southern teams tend to play a similar brand of rugby, so we have prepared accordingly.

“The first game of the season is not going to be easy, but it's a long season and we’re just going to take it game-by-game and see where the momentum takes us.”

Saturday afternoon’s game in Welkom kicks off at 15:00.

Griffons - 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Keanu Vers, 13 Aphiwe Stemele, 12 Marquit September, 11 Gurshwin Wehr, 10 Duan Pretorius (captain), 9 Jaywinn Juries, 8 Sokuphumla Xakalashe, 7 Jean Pretorius, 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Michael Benadie, 4 Wikus Nieuwenhuis, 3 Dandré Delport, 2 Buhle Nojekwa, 1 Stephan de Jager.

Replacements – 16 Chadley Wenn, 17 Xolani Jacobs, 18 Simon Raw, 19 Athenkosi Khetani, 20 Curtley Thomas, 22 Ethan Williams, 23 Donavan Don, 24 Allistair Mumba.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport