Super Rugby preview: Cheetahs v Stormers
The Cheetahs have made one change to their starting XV to face the Stormers in Bloemfontein.
Last Updated: 06/04/13 5:35pm
Piet van Zyl is prefered ahead of the former Waratahs half-back, while Burton Francis retains the number 10 jersey after replacing the injured Riaan Smit before kick-off last week.
The Cheetahs are chasing a record fifth consecutive victory this weekend, and will fancy their chances again at home.
However, they don't have the best winning record against the Stormers - losing their last seven outings against the men from Cape Town.
Former Lions flank Michael Rhodes will make his Stormers debut while Andries Bekker will win his 100th cap for the franchise.
Coach Allister Coetzee has made five changes to the team that lost 14-19 to the Crusaders last week, with one positional and two injury-enforced.
Steven Kitshoff, Rhodes, Nic Groom and Jaco Taute all come into the starting XV.
Kitshoff is back from his one-game suspension, whilst Rhodes and Taute replace Rynhardt Elstadt (shoulder) and Gerhard van den Heever (knee), respectively. Taute will line up at full-back, with Joe Pietersen shifting to the right wing.
Rhodes will make his Stormers debut in the number seven jersey, having played for the Western Province Vodacom Cup team in recent weeks.
Two other members of the WP Vodacom Cup team have also been elevated to the squad ahead of Saturday, with lock Gerbrandt Grobler (on debut) and fly-half Gary van Aswegen starting from the bench.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Willie le Roux, 13 Johan Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Piet van Zyl,, 8 Phillip van der Walt, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Coenie Oosthuisen, 18 Rynhard Landman, 19 Boom Prinsloo, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Ryno Benjamin.
Stormers: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Joe Pietersen, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Pat Cilliers, 18 Gerbrandt Grobler, 19 Nizaam Carr, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Gary van Aswegen, 22 Damian de Allende.