Fit-again flyhalf Handré Pollard will start for the Blue Bulls in Friday's Provincial Rugby Challenge encounter against the Valke in Kempton Park.

Pollard and centre Dries Swanepoel have been sidelined for several weeks after sustaining injuries while on Super Rugby duty for the Bulls in April. The pair will now make their return to action in the local competition.

'They are proven players and will no doubt bring some class to our effort. Having just returned from injury, one should not expect miracles, but they trained well and I am looking forward to the match,' said coach Pote Human.

Blue Bulls – 15 Duncan Matthews, 14 Rabs Maxwane, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Franco Naude, 11 Kefentse Mahlo, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Clyde Davids, 7 Boom Prinsloo, 6 Shaun Adendorff, 5 Aston Fortuin, 4 Abongile Nonkontwana (c), 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Alandre van Rooyen, 1 Andrew Beerwinkel.

Subs: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 7 Njuabula Gumede, 18 Marius Verwey, 19 Marco van Staden, 20 Theo Maree, 21 Tinus de Beer, 22 Divan Rossouw.

Photo: Blue Bulls