Cheetahs v Brumbies: Teams

Brussow: Back for Cheetahs to face Brumbies

Flanker Heinrich Brussow will make his fourth Cheetahs start of the Super Rugby season on Friday in one of three changes made to face the Brumbies.

Elsewhere there is a start for hooker Adriaan Strauss, who comes in for Ryno Barnes, with Kabamba Floors the one to drop out for Brussow.

Corne Uys starts ahead of Barry Geel as the latter suffered a fractured finger during the closing stages of their defeat to the Hurricanes last week.

Naka Drotske's third change comes on the bench as full-back Hennie Daniller returns from injury.

"It helps a lot to have seasoned players like Adriaan (Strauss) and Heinrich Brüssow back in the starting XV," Cheetahs backline coach Hawies Fourie told rugby365.com.

"We have been without their services for a while, so it is great to have them back.

Must-win

"They are Springboks who know what it is all about at this level and I believe it will make a big difference, considering the tight games that we have had."

Brumbies skipper Matt Giteau has been switched to the midfield for the trip to Free State.

Christian Lealiifano swaps spots with the Wallabies veteran for the must-win match against fellow strugglers Cheetahs.

Giteau has worn the number ten jersey for the first eight Super Rugby matches this season as the Brumbies stumbled to a 2-6 win-loss record.

Scrum-half Patrick Phibbs has been handed his first start of the season which sees Josh Valentine drop to the bench.

The Brumbies forwards have been boosted by the return of hookers Stephen Moore and Huia Edmonds, who were nursing injuries.

Elusive young centre Robbie Coleman returns to the team via the bench with coach Tony Rea saying strong club form with Manly had boosted his case.

Cheetahs: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Philip Burger, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Corne Uys, 11 Ryno Benjamin, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Lourens Adriaanse, 18 Martin Muller, 19 Leon Karemaker, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Naas Olivier, 22 Hennie Daniller.

Brumbies: 15 Pat McCabe, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Matt Giteau (c), 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Pat Phibbs, 8 Colby Faingaa, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Mitchell Chapman, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Peter Kimlin, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Jono Owen, 18 Ben Hand, 19 Julian Salvi, 20 Josh Valentine, 21 Tyrone Smith, 22 Robbie Coleman.