The Toyota Cheetahs flyhalf George Lourens will be looking to make a big step up in his game on Friday evening when they face the Suzuki Griquas in the SA Cup derby in Bloemfontein.

Tonight, will be the very last time Lourens as well as his teammates will get to play alongside and draw on the experience of Ruan Pienaar.

There is no doubt that Pienaar will leave a massive void in the team following his retirement this evening.

Lourens told OFM Sport that this is an opportunity to shift into a higher gear and take a bit more responsibility in the backline.

“I’m looking forward to what's lying ahead,” said Lourens.

“I've always liked to be the guy calling the shots and with Piney it's never easy to do because obviously what he says goes, which is understandable.

“I’m excited to step into a bit of a more senior role and take some more responsibility onto my shoulders, and yeah hopefully follow his footsteps and become more of a senior and a proper leader.”

Lourens added that over the last two years he has learnt a lot from the 88-time capped Springbok and he feels the team owes it to Pienaar to give him a proper send-off.

“All the boys are very amped up to give Piney the proper send-off that he deserves to not.

“He's obviously been a great mentor and person to learn from the last two years and he just brings a calmness when he is on the field. It just takes a lot of right off your shoulders although, he's not the calmest customer on the field, but he certainly takes a lot off one’s shoulders.

“He will be surely missed.”

Friday night’s game at Shimla Park kicks 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