The showdown in Bloemfontein will be the first of four matches in the Toyota Challenge Series. Next week, the two teams will clash again in the Bloemfontein while later in September they will play two games in Perth.

The Currie Cup champions have chosen an almost full-strength team for Friday's game, with two players that will make their debuts.

The former star of the University of the Free State Shimlas, Litha Nkula, will make his debut for the Cheetahs this week when he starts on the left wing in place of Daniel Kasende, who is struggling with a knee injury. Kasende, as well as Reinhardt Fortuin, will be fit for the games in Australia. Nkula has often run out at fullback for the Shimlas, but he has speed and will adapt easily on the wing. The player also played at flyhalf for the Shimlas during the Varsity Cup earlier this year and often had the duty of kicking at goal.

The halfback pairing will be the same as in the Currie Cup final, with Ruan Pienaar starting at flyhalf and Rewan Kruger serving at scrumhalf.

Among the reserves, former SA Schools and Junior Springbok prop Dayan van der Westhuizen will make his debut for the Cheetahs. Van der Westhuizen, who previously played for the Bulls and Tuks, is on a month-long contract with the Cheetahs and could possibly sign a long-term contract with the Cheetahs or elsewhere. Van der Westhuizen recently played his rugby in Japan and according to the coach, Hawies Fourie, he excelled in the Far East.

Fourie told the OFM Sport that there is a lot of excitement to play again, but it will be tough for both teams as both have not played in the past few months.

“We are looking forward to being on the field and playing again,” said Fourie, who in turn underwent a knee replacement during the off-season.

“It's great to play in the Toyota Challenge Series again - it gives us all the opportunity to grow as a team. We want to get better and as a team we feel that we have not yet reached our best. We have set ourselves goals and we want to improve in the areas we worked on during the preseason.

“We know that it will be tough as we have not played for two months and there will be mistakes, but the Force will be in the same boat. They played Super Rugby up to May and were action last three months ago”

Friday's clashes between the Cheetahs and the Force at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 17:00.

Cheetahs - 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Cohen Jasper, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Litha Nkula, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Sibabalo Qoma, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain) , 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.

Replacements - 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Jeandré Rudolph, 22 George Lourens, 23 David Brits.

Western Force Touring Group - Albert Alcock, Max Burey, Regi Churchward, Lopeti Faifua, Donny Freeman, Jack Grooby, Ford Hemi, Tom Horton, Fa'amanu Kalolo, Bayley Kuenzle, Justin Landman, Ronan Leahy, Giovanni Leituala, Reesjan Pasitoa, Marley Pearce, George Poolman, Harry Potter, Ian Prior, Jackson Pugh, Henry Robertson, Sam Spink, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Josh Thompson, Carlo Tizzano, Angus Wagner, Jeremy Williams.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport