Ruan Pienaar will captain the Toyota Cheetahs for one last time on Friday night when they face the Suzuki Griquas in Bloemfontein in their final SA Cup game.

Pienaar will lead the team in what is also his last game before calling time on his career.

He will once again play at scrumhalf, while George Lourens will start at flyhalf for the match.

Upfront, Jeandré Rudolph, returns to the team and starts at 8th-man, while Oupa Mohoje and Pierre Uys will form the second-row combination.

In addition to Pienaar, Alulutho Tshakweni, will play in his 50th and last game, while Marnus van der Merwe, Sibabalo Qoma and Tapiwa Mafura will all also don the famous white and orange jersey for a last time.

Meanwhile, Pienaar said that his career has come full-circle and two be able to win the Currie Cup twice with the team he grew up supporting is very special indeed.

“My rugby career has gone full-circle, and finishing where it all began in Bloemfontein and in front of family and friends is special,” said the 40-year-old.

“To come back at the age of 35 and be part of two Currie Cup titles was special. I’m still a huge fan of the Currie Cup series and hope it can continue for another 100 years.

“It’s a competition with so much history - so many big names in South African rugby have been privileged to lift the cup and play in the series.

“For me, it still holds a special place on the local rugby calendar.”

Friday’s derby between the Cheetahs and Griquas at Shimla Park will kick-off at 18:00.

Cheetahs -15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Joose Nel, 11 Litha Nkula, 10 George Lourens, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Sibabalo Qoma, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Oupa Mohoje, 4 Pierre Uys, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni

Replacements – 16 Chucky van der Westhuizen, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Justin Forwood, 19 Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 Will Hickey, 21 Neel Volschenk, 22 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 23 Rewan Kruger.

Griquas – 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Marcqiewn Titus, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Sako Makata, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Stephan Smit (captain), Connor Evans, 4 Athenkosi Khetani, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Leon Lyons

Replacements – 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Cebo Dlamini, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Albert Liebenberg, 21 Thabo Ndimande, 22 Bobby Alexander, 23 Lubabalo Dobela

Morgan Piek OFM Sport