For the first time the team will be playing under the Stormers banner in the world’s oldest domestic competition, and they will no longer be known as Western Province.

No fewer than six players are in line to make their Currie Cup debuts. Fullback Dylan Miller, wing Mfundo Ndhlovu, lock Tom Barnard, 8th-man Wandile Mlaba, loose forward Xola Nyali and utility back Dominic Malgas will all experience the competition for the first time.

Hencus van Wyk still played against Western Province last year. Photo: Morgan Piek

The former Toyota Cheetahs duo of hooker Vernon Paulo, prop Hencus van Wyk, as well as the former Sharks scrumhalf Tiaan Fourie are also set to make their first Currie Cup appearances for a Stormers side.

Du Plessis will partner the experienced Stefan Ungerer at halfback, while Fourie and Malgas provide backline cover from the bench.

In midfield, Josh Boulle and Cornel Smit combine, while Miller joins Gino Cupido and Ndhlovu in an exciting and youthful back three.

Scarra Ntubeni has come out of retirement to answer the SOS call at hooker. Photo: Morgan Piek

The front row sees Paulo pack down between veteran loosehead Oli Kebble and promising tighthead Herman Lubbe. Experienced hooker Scarra Ntubeni, along with Mhleli Khuzwayo and Van Wyk, will provide impact off the bench.

Barnard partners former Currie Cup winner Gerbrandt Grobler in the second row. Grobler brings valuable experience, having been part of Western Province’s title-winning side at Newlands in 2014.

Mlaba anchors the back of the scrum, flanked by Divan Fuller and Keke Morabe, while Dylan de Leeuw, Enos Ndiao and Nyali offer additional firepower among the replacements.

Tiaan Fourie played for SWD this year in the SA Cup. Photo: Morgan Piek

Head coach Tom Dawson-Squibb believes his side has embraced the opportunity to launch a new chapter for the Stormers in the Currie Cup.

“We are a new team, which means there will naturally be some adapting during the game, but it also brings tremendous enthusiasm and competitiveness,” Dawson-Squibb said.

“My message over the last four weeks has been to compete ‘unreasonably’. We want this team to go above and beyond in every area and push ourselves as far as possible. There is no better way to test that than against the defending champions, who are full of confidence.

Vernon Paulo en route to the tryline against Western Province. Photo: Morgan Piek

“This is the beginning of a new era, and there is no better place to start than at the Cape Town Stadium. The players and management are excited about the challenge and determined to give everything to make a positive start.”

Meanwhile, there was a late change tot he Griquas team with Marco de Witt ruled out through injury. Lourens Oosthuizen moves from the bench and will wear the number six jersey, while Carel Els moves to the other side of the scrum. Carel van der Merwe comes into the match 23 as cover on the bench.

Friday’s game at the Cape Town Stadium in Green Point kicks off at 19:05.

Stormers XXIII – 15 Dylan Miller, 14 Gino Cupido, 13 Josh Boulle, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Mfundo Ndhlovu, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis (captain), 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Divan Fuller, 6 Keke Morabe, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Tom Barnard, 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Oli Kebble

Replacements – 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Mhleli Khuzwayo, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Dylan de Leeuw, 20 Enos Ndiao, 21 Xola Nyali, 22 Tiaan Fourie, 23 Dominic Malgas

Griquas – 15 Gurswin Wehr, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Mnombo Zwelendab, 12 Sako Makata, 11 Stefan Coetzee, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Dillon Smith, 7 Carl Els, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg (captain), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 IG Prinsloo, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Leon Lyons

Replacements – 16 Tiaan Lange, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Ntobeko Shezi, 19 Derik Pretorius, 20 Carel van der Merwe, 21 Caleb Abrahams, 22 Damian Markus, 23 Cameron Hufke

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek sm