Nel, a centre from the UCT Ikey Tigers, will come off the bench after Tertius Kruger was ruled out with a concussion. 

The Griquas will also welcome back their influential co-captain, Marco de Witt, who was rested during their narrow 31–29 win over the Cheetahs last weekend.

Head coach Pieter Bergh told OFM Sport that the semi-final presents a great opportunity for Nel.

“Tom won the Varsity Cup with UCT and played outside centre in the final,” Bergh said. “He played the whole season for UCT, and we brought him in after the final. He’s been training with us for about four weeks now and has been doing really well.

“He can play at 12 or 13, he’s a big, strong guy, and he’s quick, which suits our style of play nicely. With Tertius unavailable, it’s a great chance for Tom to show what he can do.”

Tertius Kruger. Photo: Morgan Piek

Bergh noted that the semi-final would be an entirely different challenge despite having played the Cheetahs just last week.

“A semi-final is a knockout game – there’s a lot more at stake. You can see it in the way the guys have trained this week,” he said.

“We scored at the death to win last week’s match, but I was thinking at the time, even if we didn’t, we’d be facing them again in the semi-final. This week, though, the intensity and focus have been on another level.

“The players have been sharp – you can see they know what’s on the line. These are the kinds of games you want to be part of as a rugby player – knockout rugby at its best.”

Saturday’s highly anticipated clash between the Griquas and the Cheetahs kicks off at 15:00 at the Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley.

Griquas - 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Gurswin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead (captain), 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Cebo Dlamini, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Eddie Davids

Replacements - 16 Gustav du Randt, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Athenkosi Khethani, 20 Phumzile Maqondwana, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 Tylor Sefoor, 23 Tom Nel

Cheetahs - TBA

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh