Chiefs v Cheetahs - Super Rugby match preview

Sarel Pretorius: Starts at scrum-half for the Cheetahs

Hika Elliot: Has recovered from a calf injury

The Chiefs have made four changes to their line-up for Saturday's Super Rugby encounter against the Cheetahs.

The Waikato franchise opened up their title defence with an entertaining victory over the Highlanders but coach Dave Rennie has opted to rotate his squad.

Hika Elliot has recovered from a calf injury to start in the No 2 jersey, while lock Michael Fitzgerald, scrum-half Augustine Pulu and winger Lelia Masaga all come into the starting XV.

Rhys Marshall, who made an impressive debut against the Highlanders, Craig Clarke, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Patrick Osborne all drop to the bench.

The Cheetahs have made just the one change to their starting line-up following the 29-22 loss to the Sharks.

Sarel Pretorius, who joined the franchise in the off-season from the Waratahs, will start at scrum-half, with Piet van Zyl dropping to the bench.

There are two further alterations among the replacements with Landman Ligtoring and Riaan Smit replacing Waltie Vermeulen and Elgar Watts respectively

Chiefs: 15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Tim Nanai-Williams, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam (c), 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Michael Fitzgerald, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Ben Tameifuna, 18 Craig Clarke, 19 Tanerau Latimer, 20 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 21 Charlie Ngatai, 22 Patrick Osborn

Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Willie le Roux, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Frans Viljoen, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Adriaan Strauss (capt), 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Landman Ligtoring, 19 Boom Prinsloo, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Riaan Smit, 22 Ryno Benjamin.

What they said...

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie

"Out of all the South African sides the Cheetahs probably play a style that is closest to ours.

"They are innovative and can score tries from anywhere around the park and like all South African sides they are big and physical.

"We had a really free-flowing match against them in Bloemfontein last year, and we are expecting them to play a style of game similar to us, which is a free flowing, high paced, ruck and run game."

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske

"Sarel is an experienced scrum-half that will combine well with Johan Goosen. Experience will be vital against the Chiefs."

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