The former Cheetahs loose-forward, George Cronjé, will start for the Sharks on Friday evening when they tackle Zebre in Parma in round four of the United Rugby Championship.

The Sharks are hunting for their first win of the season this will put more pressure on the team from Durban.

The Sharks made just two changes with Cronjé starting at 8th-man, while Boeta Chamberlain slots in at flyhalf in place of the injured Curwin Bosch.

The Sharks coach, John Plumtree, told OFM Sport that the Currie Cup winner Cronjé is still a work in progress, but the potential is there.

“I like his continuity skills - he seems to pop up at the right place at the right time,” said Plumtree.

“His setpiece work still needs some refining, but he has got a lot of rugby in him and he is an intelligent player, so I've been pretty happy with him.

“I'm still getting to know his game, but he is enjoying this environment. He is enjoying the professionalism that we've got going here - it's something that he has enjoyed and is embracing, so hopefully he'll have a good one.”

Friday evening’s game kicks off at 19:30, while at 21:45 the Cardiff Blues will tackle the Bulls at Cardiff Arms Park.

Sharks - 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Francois Venter (captain), 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 George Cronje, 7 Phepsi Buthelezi, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.

Replacements - 16 Daniel Jooste, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Marnus Potgieter.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport