Cheetahs v Blues: Teams

The Cheetahs have been rocked by a growing injury list ahead of Saturday's match with the Blues in Bloemfontein.

Inspirational hooker Adriaan Strauss has been ruled out for the rest of the Super 14 competition after suffering a shoulder injury last weekend.

He will undergo an operation later this week and will be replaced in the middle of the front row by Griquas man, Ryno Barnes.

The Blues will be missing three All Blacks for differing reasons when they travel to Bloemfontein for their win-or-bust Super 14 showdown.

Luke McAlister and Rudi Wulf both flew back to Auckland following last week's loss to the Sharks to be with their pregnant partners.

Isaia Toeava moves into centre as a result, while Paul Williams starts at full-back and Rene Ranger shifts to the wing.

Anthony Tuitavake will make his first appearance in the 22 this year while lock Anthony Boric also joins the bench having only travelled to South Africa this week after overcoming an ankle injury sustained during the Bulls match last month.

Hooker Tom McCartney starts his first game of the season after captain Keven Mealamu suffered a strained calf against the Sharks last week, with a call to be made on the skipper's involvement closer to the match.

Jerome Kaino will captain the Blues in Mealamu's absence.

Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Corne Uys, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Frans Viljoen, 7 Juan Smith (capt), 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 Izak van der Westhuizen, 3 WP Nel, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Phillip van der Walt, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Riaan Viljoen, 22 Robert Ebersohn.

Blues: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Rene Ranger, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Viliami Ma'afu, 7 Tom Chamberlain, 6 Jerome Kaino (capt), 5 Filo Paulo, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tevita Mailau/Keven Mealamu, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 Anthony Tuitavake.