Lukhanyo Am has been brought straight back into the Sharks starting lineup for the crucial Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash with Ulster in Belfast on Friday evening.

Sean Everitt has made just three changes from the last outing, a 41-21 penultimate round victory over Connacht at Kings Park at the end of April.

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There is a new lock pairing of Ruben van Heerden and Reniel Hugo, who come in for Le Roux Roets and Gerbrandt Grobler, respectively, with just the one change to the backline where Am returns to action after his two-month sojourn in Japan, taking over from Ben Tapuai at outside centre.

While Am is back in the starting lineup, Springbok tighthead prop Thomas du Toit has retained the captaincy, having led the Sharks during Am’s short sabbatical.

“We’re currently sitting on top of the South African Shield and third on the log, so there is everything to play for,” Everitt explained.

“We know what a huge challenge it is to go to Belfast to play at Kingspan, but we do believe we have the ability and the players, as well as the coaching team to go over there and do the job.

“It would be really good for us if we were able to come home and play in front of our fans at Kings Park in a quarter- and semi-final.”

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Sharks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit (c), 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Jeandre Labuschagne, 21 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Boeta Chamberlain.

Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix