Sharks v Highlanders: Teams

Tendai MtawariraL The 'Beast' will play for the sharks for the first time this season

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The Sharks will welcome dynamic prop Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira to the fray for the first time this season when they face the Highlanders in Durban on Saturday.

Mtawarira injured his ankle during the Sharks' pre-season preparations and has not yet featured this season.

The Springbok star's return is one of three changes to the Sharks team that narrowly missed out against the Chiefs two weeks ago.

Elsewhere in the pack, impressive young flanker Marcell Coetzee takes over the number seven jersey from Willem Alberts.

There is a first start for another young gun as Paul Jordaan comes in at outside centre. Jordaan's arrival sees JP Pietersen switch to wing and Louis Ludik shift over to full-back. Riaan Viljoen drops out of the matchday 22.

Jannie du Plessis and Wiehahn Herbst are bracketed together at tighthead prop, with the former struggling to shake off a knock sustained against the Chiefs. Du Plessis will take some part in the encounter with the only question being whether it will be from the start or off the bench.

Coach John Plumtree has named a five-two forward split amongst his replacements, with number eight Ryan Kankowski featuring for the first time since injuring his finger in the opening round of the competition.

Highlanders team news to follow....

Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Keegan Daniel (c), 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis/Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Jannie du Plessis/Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Ryan Kankowski, 21 Frederic Michalak, 22 Meyer Bosman.

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