The two-match series will form a key part of both teams’ preparation for the upcoming EPCR Challenge Cup, and there will certainly be no love lost between the sides on the park. Both teams are expecting a fast-paced and physical contest, and for the visitors, it will be somewhat personal as many of their players featured in Georgia’s 24-20 defeat to the Cheetahs back in July.

In the pack, the 20-year-old lock, Arno van der Merwe, will earn a start for the Cheetahs after making his debut during the 50-0 drubbing at the hands of the Pumas in the SA Cup last year.

The bench sees new signing, Zander du Plessis, on debut after joining the team on Monday, while 20-year-old loosehead prop, Malcolm Lamont, gets a run; he made his unofficial Cheetahs debut in the Currie Cup warm-up game against the Suzuki Griquas in Bultfontein earlier this year.

Michael Annies, Prince Nkabinde, and Cohen Jasper will be the outside backs in the starting XV, while Marco Janse van Vuren and Franco Smith Jr will patrol the midfield.

Clayton Blommetjies and Smiley Nel will form the starting halfback combination.

Arno van der Merwe on debut against the Pumas in 2024. Photo: Morgan Piek

In the pack, Neels Volschenk, Pierre Uys, and Gideon van der Merwe will form a formidable loose-trio, with captain Victor Seketete and Van der Merwe pairing up in the second row.

Aranos Coetzee and Chucky van der Merwe return to the front row alongside Tielman Nieuwoudt. The young lock Van der Merwe told OFM Sport that he is thrilled to get his first start.

“I’m really excited; I feel this whole under-21 season has given me good preparation for the build-up to this game,” said the product of Grey College and the Shimlas.

“I didn’t expect to play this game, actually, but it’s a massive honour for me to wear the jersey again tomorrow night.

“I’m too excited to sleep, so we’ll see. We didn’t really watch much about the way they play, so we’ll just take it to them tomorrow.”

Van der Merwe is the latest of the UFS Shimlas players to start breaking into the senior team after the likes of Frankie dos Reis, Ben Pitout, and Juan Venter, to name but a few, and he added that it’s a huge privilege to be able to wear both the white and royal blue jerseys.

Zander du Plessis playing against his idol, Frans Steyn, in 2022. Photo: Morgan Piek

“It’s really exciting that we’re able to carry the legacy of both teams forward,” the young beanstalk added.

“There’s good competition, and it’s nice that the senior guys help us a lot, like Victor, Pierre, and Toffer. I watched them play growing up, so I can’t describe it in words; it’s really a massive honour.”

Meanwhile, Du Plessis, who grew up supporting the Cheetahs as well as the Sharks because of his childhood hero, Frans Steyn, told OFM Sport that he is just as excited to represent the team for the first time.

Malcolm Lamont. Photo: Morgan Piek

“I’m definitely very excited - growing up in Bloemfontein, you know how much the Cheetahs mean to the people here,” said the versatile former Griqua.

“So it’s just great to be back on the pitch and hopefully put in a good performance.

“It was the Cheetahs and also the Sharks, actually. I was a fan of Frans Steyn, who was also at Grey, so I supported the Sharks, and there were quite a few other Grey old boys playing for them at the time. That’s why the Cheetahs and Sharks were my two teams.

“Growing up, I looked up to him and the way he played, so I’m very excited to play under him now, and hopefully everything goes according to plan.”

Friday night’s game between the Cheetahs and Black Lion at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 18:00.

Cheetahs – 15 Michael Annies, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Marco Janse van Vuren, 12 Franco Smith, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Clayton Blommetjies, 9 Jandré Nel, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Arno van der Merwe, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Chucky van der Westhuizen, 1 Tielman Nieuwoudt

Replacements – 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Malcolm Lamont, 18 Frankie Dos Reis, 19 Mihali Mosi, 20 Sisonke Vumazonke, 21 Daniel Maartens, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 Zander du Plessis

Black Lion – 15 Otar Metreveli, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Zaur Lutidze, 12 Tornike Kakhoidze, 11 Shalva Aptsiauri, 10 Luka Tsirekidze, 9 Tengiz Pranidze, 8 Giorgi Sinauridze, 7 Giorgi Tsutskiridze, 6 Sandro Mamamtavrishvili, 5 Demur Epremidze, 4 Mikheil Babunashvili (captain), 3 Kakha­ber Darbaidze, 2 Irakli Kvatadze, 1 Dato Abdushelishvili

Replacements – 16 Tamaz Tchamiashvili, 17 Nikoloz Khatiashvili, 18 Badri Tsikhistavi, 19 Giorgi Nikoladze, 20 Lasha Tsikhistavi, 21 Giorgi Spanderashvili, 22 Alexander Todua, 23 Luka Takaishvili

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh