The Springbok centre, Lukhanyo Am, is looking to put in a big shift on Saturday during the historic Test against Portugal in Bloemfontein.

Am will start at outside centre in the new-look Bok team and the exciting centre makes his long-awaited return.

Am also brings an aspect of leadership to the team and could very easily have been named as the captain. The Springboks are blessed with an abundance of really good centres and the return of Am just adds to that.

Am told OFM Sport that he welcomes the stiff competition in the squad.

“That's one thing we have managed to do really well as a squad - it's having healthy competition and depth in the group. It gets you as a player to be accountable for bringing our A-game all the time and making sure you're doing your prep correctly and being the best version of yourself at training and on game day.

“It's really good - it's good for the individuals and it's good for the team.”

André Esterhuizen - Morgan Piek

Am will form the centre combination with André Esterhuizen and it will be his first Test since picking up a knee injury against Argentina in August last year. Am added that injuries are part and parcel of the game, and it’s a matter of putting in the hard yards to ensure you can make a return

“It's been up-and-down and it's part of the game, you know, injuries do happen,” said Am.

“It's just about working and getting back to where you were. Me being here is such a good sign that at least I tried my best and gave myself an opportunity to be here. I just can't want to wear the green-and-gold jersey again.”

On their opponents for the weekend, Am, said Portugal will be charged up and they will want to make another big statement, but this time against the back-to-back World Champions.

“It's going to be a good challenge, and a challenge that we've accepted as a group. For myself just being back in action again - I'm really looking forward to it.

“We know for Portugal it's definitely going to be a big game for them playing against the World Champions on their home ground.

“It's going to be exciting and I'm really looking forward to it.”

Saturday’s historic Test at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 17:00.

Springboks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels

Replacements – 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Ruan Venter, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Quan Horn

Portugal – TBA

Morgan Piek OFM Sport