Fullback Tristan Leyds will return from injury to start in Western Province’s Currie Cup tussle with the unbeaten Free State Cheetahs on Wednesday.
Cornel Smit and Mnombo Zwelendaba will also link up in midfield for WP in Bloemfontein, alongside a new halfback combination in Kade Wolhuter and Thomas Bursey.
WP captain Nama Xaba is joined in the loose trio by Marcel Theunissen and Keke Morabe, with Connor Evans and Ben-Jason Dixon linking up in the second row.
Hooker JJ Kotze also makes his return from a stint on the sidelines, while Lukhanyo Vokozela is set to make his senior debut from the bench.
“The time off has been valuable for us to look at our game and work on a few important things,” said WP coach Jerome Paarwater, whose side’s last outing was a 22-20 defeat by Griquas on 18 February.
“We are excited to have some key players back in the mix and we are looking forward to seeing how some of these new combinations go against a good Cheetahs side in Bloemfontein.”
Cheetahs boss tinkers with winning formula
Western Province – 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Nama Xaba (c), 5 Ben-Jason Dixon, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Kwenzo Blose.
Subs: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Simon Miller, 20 Roelof Smit, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Tim Swiel, 23 Rikus Pretorius.
