The Toyota Cheetahs will look to hit the ground running on Friday night when they tackle the Western Force in Bloemfontein in what is the opening game of the Toyota Challenge.

The Cheetahs named a near full-strength team for the game which also marks the start of their season.

The Perth-based Super Rugby franchise will use the opportunity to blood some of their new signings such as the fullback, Harry Potter, who joined the team from the Leicester Tigers.

The Cheetahs blindside flanker, Gideon van der Merwe, told OFM Sport it should be a good match.

“We are very excited and it will be an exciting game and the Cheetahs and Force play a similar game,” said the loose-forward.

“It's going to be an expansive game, although it is still very early. We just had a short preseason after the Currie Cup and I think that it's important that we find ourselves and get back to where we left off after the final.

“We are just going to try and work the rust off and get ourselves ready for what lies ahead. I think it will be a great match up for where we find ourselves now.”

The match between the Cheetahs and 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 - 15 Harry Potter, 14 George Poolman, 13 Sam Spink, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Ronan Leahy, 10 Max Burey, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Jeremy Williams, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Donny Freeman, 5 Lopeti Faifua, 4 Joshua Thompson, 3 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Marley Pearce.

Replacements - 16 Ford Hemi, 17 Angus Wagner, 18 Regi Churchward, 19 Jackson Pugh, 20 Fa’amanu Kalolo, 21 Jack Grooby, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Gio Leituala.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport