Sanele Nohamba will start his first game of the season when the Sharks travel to Mpumalanga to take on the Pumas in a Currie Cup clash on Friday night.

Nohamba has played off the bench in all three of the Sharks’ matches so far in the Currie Cup, with Cameron Wright preferred as the starting scrumhalf.

However, the 23-year-old will get a big opportunity on Friday as the Sharks look to continue their unbeaten start in the competition against a tough Pumas team.

Nohamba will be partnered by flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain, who retains his place after starting in the 45-31 win over the Lions in Johannesburg.

In the only other changes to the backline, Yaw Penxe shifts from fullback to wing in place of Werner Kok, with Inny Radebe called up from the bench to start at fullback.

There are just two changes to the forward pack as Wiehahn Herbst and Dian Bleuler, who played off the bench against the Lions, rotate into the starting lineup with Khwezi Mona and Khutha Mchunu.

For a youthful bench, lock Corne Rahl, scrumhalf Bradley Davids and flyhalf Jordan Chait are all called up to the squad.

Sharks – 15 Inny Radebe, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Murray Koster, 11 Marnus Potgieter, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Celimpilo Gumede, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 James Venter (c), 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Subs: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 OJ Noa, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Jordan Chait, 23 Curwin Gertse.

Photo: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images