Bulls v Blues: Teams

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has opted for flanker Danie Rossouw to pack down at lock alongside Bakkies Botha for Saturday's Super 14 clash against the Blues.

Rossouw replaces Victor Matfield, who will miss the next three matches as a result of his shoulder injury. Rossouw joins the starting XV with Wilhelm Steenkamp will be on the bench as the lock replacement.

Fourie du Preez will take over the captaincy in the Matfield's absence, but the rest of the team was left unchanged for the match against the team from Auckland.

And du Preez insists his side has a great deal of respect for the Blues and were expecting a tough encounter.

"We've seen in the past that the New Zealand franchises have a lot of depth and they always have someone else in their squad that is very capable of replacing an injured player," said du Preez.

"The Blues are always an unbelievable tough opponent, but after the win against the Reds we are on track and as a team we are confident in our abilities."

Experienced

Pat Lam has made a number of changes to the Blues line-up ahead of Saturday's match against the Bulls, with Josh Blackie set to make his return to the side after seven years away.

Blackie made one appearance as a draft player in 2002 but he made his name playing for the Highlanders before moving to Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers in Japan.

However Lam insists the flanker was raring to go having joined the Blues in October 2008.

"Josh is an experienced player and he's been at this level many times," Lam said.

"He certainly looks like a youngster, he's nervous and excited to go and coming into a team that's new for him he's fitted in really well and you can certainly see his experience off the field and he's looking forward to it."

A shuffled backline sees Isaia Toeava named at full-back with Rene Ranger and Paul Williams on the wings, while Anthony Tuitavake gets an opportunity at centre along with Jamie Helleur.

Captain Keven Mealamu is being given more time to prove his fitness following a calf strain and has been bracketed with Tom McCartney, and Tevita Mailau will face a baptism of fire against the Bulls front row in his Super 14 debut after replacing Tony Woodcock at prop.

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez (c), 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Danie Rossouw, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Pedrie Wannenburg, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Burton Francis, 22 JP Nel.

Blues: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Rene Ranger, 13 Anthony Tuitavake, 12 Jamie Helleur, 11 Paul Williams, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Chris Smylie, 8 Chris Lowrey, 7 Josh Blackie, 6 Justin Collins, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu / Tom McCartney 1 Tevita Mailau.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney / Francis Smith, 17 Tony Woodcock, 18 Dean Budd, 19 Onosa'i Auva'a, 20 Grayson Hart, 21 Michael Hobbs, 22 Winston Stanley.