Bismarck du Plessis will be back at hooker for the Sharks’ Super Rugby encounter against the Brumbies in Durban on Saturday, with captain John Smit having been ruled out with a calf strain.
Du Plessis, who has been brought back from injury off the bench over the last couple of weeks, will start in the number two jersey.
There is also a re-shuffle in the loose-trio, with Jean Deysel starting his first game for the Sharks in 10 months. He slots in at blindside flank, while Willem Alberts moves to number eight in place of the injured Ryan Kankowski.
Deysel made his return to action as a replacement against the Stormers last week after a lengthy injury layoff, and will add serious physicality to this weekend’s match in tandem with Alberts.
Meanwhile, at lock, Alistair Hargreaves — who has also recently recovered from injury — takes the place of Ross Skeate in the number five jersey, with Anton Bresler moving up from the Sharks XV side to provide second row cover on the bench.
The backline remains unchanged, although hooker Craig Burden and loose-forward Marcell Coetzee are two new faces on the bench.
Team: Louis Ludik, Odwa Ndungane, Stefan Terblanche (captain), Meyer Bosman, JP Pietersen, Patrick Lambie, Charl McLeod, Willem Alberts, Jean Deysel, Keegan Daniel, Alistair Hargreaves, Steven Sykes, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Craig Burden, Eugene van Staden, Anton Bresler, Marcell Coetzee, Conrad Hoffmann, Adrian Jacobs, Lwazi Mvovo. — Sapa