The Free State Cheetahs coaching staff, led by Rassie Erasmus, believes their first real test of the Currie Cup season will come when the defending champions face the Lions on Saturday.
The Cheetahs are coming off two massive wins, over Griquas and the Falcons, while the Lions are coming off successive losses.
”This match will be a tight affair and will be a stiffer challenge to see how our team will fare this season,” said Erasmus.
”The Lions are our bogey team; I mean, we lost twice to them last season, home and away,” he conceded.
The Cheetahs go into the match with a relatively untried centre combination in Dale Heidtman and JW Jonker but with experienced wingers in Gavin Passens and Giscard Pieters — and as a tried-and-tested halfback combination, the pair should do well.
The Cheetahs pack may be a bit lightweight, especially in the loose-forward department, but the speed to the breakdown will be crucial and could prove the key. — Sapa
Cheetahs: Bevin Fortuin, Giscard Pieters, JW Jonker, Dale Heidtman, Gavin Passens, Willem de Waal, Michael Claasens, Ryno van der Merwe, Darron Nel, Hendro Scholtz (c), Barend Pieterse, Corniel van Zyl, Jannie du Plessis, Jaco du Toit, Ollie le Roux.
Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Wian du Preez, Rory Duncan, Kamamba Floors, Falie Oelschig, Chris Kruger, Phillip Burger.