Both Goosen and Carr are making their return from injury, and the Bulls are also desperate to earn their first win of the competition.

The team will once again be captained by Lizo Gqoboka, while Lionel Mapoe is also in the starting line-up and both of these players are also Boks.

The coach of the Bulls, Edgar Marutlulle, said he is excited that the former Cheetah, Goosen, is back in action.

"If anyone offers you Goosen for your Currie Cup game, you take him at the blink of an eye. He is a world-class player who has travelled the world, represented the Springboks and played really amazing rugby in his career, and so we are excited to have him with us for the Currie Cup.

"I think when some people call you a prodigal in terms of sports, where Johan has been earmarked since the age of 16, 17 and there has always been that pressure of performance that he has shown at times. He has gone on to win two Player of the Year awards during his time at the Top14 in France.

"As a new coaching staff, we have the ability to give Johan freshness, the opportunity to give him space and a new voice where this team becomes the place where he can relax because he knows this is not the penultimate of rugby."

Friday afternoon’s match between the Griffons and Bulls in Welkom kicks off at 15:00.

Griffons – TBA

Bulls - 15 Franco Knoetze, 14 Quewin Nortje, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Lionel Mapoe, 11 Kabelo Mokoena, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Nizaam Carr, 6 Phumzile Maqondwana, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Jacques Du Plessis, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Jan Hendrik Wessels, 1 Lizo Gqoboka (captain).

Replacements - 16 Simphiwe Matanzima, 17 Joe Van Zyl, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 JP Alberts, 20 Mihlali Mosi, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Chris Smit, 23 Adriaan Joubert.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport