Hurricanes v Cheetahs: Teams

WP Nel: Has been fit to start against the Hurricanes

Victor Vito: Has been ruled out with a calf strain

Victor Vito has been forced to pull out of the Hurricanes line-up for Saturday's clash with the Cheetahs.

Vito had been due to start the encounter at No.8 but he suffered a calf strain on Thursday. That means youngster Brad Shields starts, with Mark Reddish coming in on the bench.

Flanker Karl Lowe makes his first start for the franchise since 2010, while lock James Broadhurst and centre Charlie Ngatai replace Jeremy Thrush and Tim Bateman.

There is also a place on the bench for Jayden Hayward for the first time.

Promoted

The Cheetahs have recalled powerful props WP Nel and Coenie Oosthuizen for the trip to Wellington.

Nel has been passed fit after missing the 28-21 defeat to the Crusaders while Oosthuizen is promoted from the bench.

Rayno Benjamin and Pieter van Zyl also come into the side, with Cameron Jacobs omitted and Tewis de Bruyn dropped to the bench.

Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brad Shields, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 James Broadhurst, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tristan Moran.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Michael Bent, 18 Mark Reddish, 19 Jack Lam, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 Jayden Hayward.

Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Pieter van Zyl, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Justin Downey, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 George Earle, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Andries Ferreira, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Philip Snyman.

Click here for more betting