After nearly 10 months out of the game, Sharks flanker Jean Deysel has been named on the bench for their crucial Super Rugby clash against the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.
Deysel is likely to get his first taste of action for the senior team since he injured his knee during the early rounds of the Currie Cup last year.
The 26-year-old has been slowly brought back from injury over the last few weeks with the Vodacom Cup team, but an injury to flanker Jacques Botes has seen him elevated to the Sharks’ bench sooner than initially expected.
Botes falls out of the match 22 all together because of an ankle injury, with Keegan Daniel set to start at number six.
Meanwhile, lock Alistair Hargreaves and hooker Bismarck du Plessis have both overcome shoulder injuries and have been picked on the bench.
Captain John Smit remains at hooker after an outstanding performance in the number two jersey against the Hurricanes last week which went a long way in silencing his critics.
Alongside the skipper, Jannie du Plessis replaces Eugene van Staden at tighthead prop, while the final change to the starting line-up from last weekend sees Odwa Ndungane replacing Lwazi Mvovo.
Sharks team: Louis Ludik, Odwa Ndungane, Stefan Terblanche, Meyer Bosman, JP Pietersen, Patrick Lambie, Charl McLeod, Ryan Kankowski, Willem Alberts, Keegan Daniel, Ross Skeate, Steven Sykes, Jannie du Plessis, John Smit (capt), Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Eugene van Staden, Alistair Hargreaves, Jean Deysel, Conrad Hoffmann, Adrian Jacobs, Lwazi Mvovo — Sapa