In the backline, Munier Hartzenberg shifts from wing to outside centre in place of the injured Zander du Plessis, while Cohen Jasper moves off the bench to take Hartzenberg’s spot on the wing. George Lourens, who joined the squad earlier this week, slots straight in at fly-half with Jaco van der Walt sidelined, and Marco Jansen van Vuuren continues in the number nine jersey. 

Lourens makes his long-awaited return from a fractured arm before the Currie Cup. Up front, Juan Venter moves from flank to lock with Victor Sekekete ruled out due to a facial fracture. 

This opens the door for Daniel Maartens to earn a rare start in the number six jersey, while Pierre Uys shifts to the opposite side of the scrum. The starting front row remains unchanged.

Meanwhile, on the bench, Dux Manyama has recovered from a long-term injury and will provide cover at loosehead prop, replacing Tielman Niewoudt. Curtly Thomas also comes onto the bench to offer cover at lock in what will be his long-awaited Cheetahs debut.

With the Cheetahs opting for a six–two split among the replacements, Jandré Nel and Clayton Blommetjies will provide the backline cover.

Winger Prince Nkabinde told OFM Sport that the team must learn from their 42-12 defeat to the Exeter Chiefs but avoid dwelling on it. “Last week was a really tough game against a very good Exeter team,” said Nkabinde.

“They challenged us a lot in the first half, especially in the wider channels, but there were plenty of positives to take from it. In the second half, it was basically 7-5, and we started to play more rugby and create opportunities – we just couldn’t finish them.

“This weekend we’re looking forward to playing a running brand of rugby if the conditions are dry, because it would be great for us to move the ball and shift it into those wider channels, which we didn’t do well enough against Exeter.”

Nkabinde added that they back themselves physically and that the artificial pitch in the Netherlands won’t be a factor. “We expect a physical challenge, especially from their forwards, and we want to bring that physicality as well. It’s a game we’re really looking forward to.

“We’ve played on a 4G pitch before, and we’ve been training on it this past week – even last week in Exeter – so it’s nothing new for us anymore when we play up here in Europe.”

Saturday’s clash at the NRCA Stadium kicks off at 15:00.

Toyota Cheetahs – 15 Michael Annies, 14 Cohen Jasper, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 De-an Ackermann, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 George Lourens,9 Marco Jansen van Vuuren, 8 Gideon van der Merwe, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Juan Venter, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Chucky van der Westhuizen, 1 Cameron Dawson

Replacements – 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Dux Manyama, 18 Frankie Dos Reis, 19 Curtly Thomas, 20 Sisonke Vumazonke, 21 Neels Volschenk, 22 Jandré Nel, 23 Clayton Blommetjies

Stade Français – 15 Mathis Ibo, 14 Charles Laloi, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Jeremy Ward (captain), 11 Andy Timo, 10 Louis Foursans-Bourdette, 9 Thibaut Motassi, 8 Iakopo Mapu, 7 Ryan Chapuis, 6 Juan-Martin Scelzo, 5 Jacques Botha, 4 Pierre-Henri Azagoh, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Alvaro Garcia Albo, 1 Jack Iscaro

Replacements – 16 Lucas Peyresblanques, 17 Moses Alo-Emile, 18 Braxton Asi, 19 Mathieu Hirigoyen, 20 Setareki Turagacoke, 21 Noah Nene, 22 Martin Blum, 23 Joe Jonas

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek  mvh