Reds v Cheetahs: Teams

The Reds are boosted by the return of skipper James Horwill for their Super Rugby clash against the Cheetahs at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

Horwill missed the past two games with an ankle injury but has returned ahead of the team's upcoming four games against South Africans.

The returning Red is the only change to the line-up from the team which disposed of the Rebels 53-3, while back-rower Jake Schatz has also recovered from an ankle injury to gain selection on the bench.

Schatz was a solid performer and captain of the QAS Reds 2nd XV before his injury.

"James tested his ankle earlier this week and passed with flying colours," coach Ewen McKenzie said, speaking to the Reds website.

"He's an important cog to what we do here so having him back and raring to go bodes well heading into an important stage of our campaign.

"Jake has played Super Rugby before so he knows what it's all about. He was playing great rugby before the injury so his return to full health is a major boost for us moving forward.

"He'll bring with him the experience of playing in almost every game for us last season and he has played all three backrow positions for the Reds already. That includes two starts at openside flanker with one of those being against the Cheetahs."

Lock Wilhelm Steenkamp will captain the Cheetahs in a side that features two changes to the back-line.

The former Bulls second row will be the Cheetahs' fifth captain in six weekends as a bizarre unlucky streak continues to hamper the Free Staters.

Inside centre Andries Strauss, who skippered the side to their historic win over the Waratahs last week, is back in South Africa nursing a groin injury. His place is taken by Corne Uys.

There is one other change to the back-line where left wing Wilmaure Louw, who recently arrived from Bloemfontein, slots straight into the starting XV ahead of Fabian Juries, who drops to the bench.

The pack is unchanged and will feature star openside flank Heinrich Brüssow, who will be looking to continue his return from injury after a stellar performance last week.

Reds: 15 Ben Lucas, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Anthony Faingaa, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Beau Robinson, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 James Horwill (capt), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 James Slipper, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 19 Radike Samo, 20 Jake Schatz, 21 Mike Harris, 22 Luke Morahan.

Cheetahs:15 Riaan Viljoen, 14, Phillip Snyman, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Corne Uys, 11 Wilmaure Louw, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Phillip van der Walt, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp (captain), 4 Martin Muller, 3 WP Nel, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Lourens Adriaanse, 18 Francois Uys, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Naas Olivier, 22 Fabian Juries.