Kurt-Lee Arendse will start at fullback for the Vodacom Bulls in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against the Sharks in Durban on Friday.

Bulls director of rugby Jake White has announced an exciting 23-man squad to face a Sharks team loaded with international players for the South African derby, a repeat of the previous two editions of the domestic Currie Cup final.

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Tighthead prop Robert Hunt will earn his first starting berth for the Bulls at Kings Park. Hunt, who made his debut and played off the bench on the Bulls’ four-week tour of Europe in the opening rounds of the URC, will buckle down alongside Gerhard Steenekamp at loosehead prop, with the experienced Bismarck du Plessis starting at hooker.

There are also a few positional changes in the backline facing off against the likes of Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi.

Arendse, who has been deployed on the wing up to this point, will start in the No 15 jersey while David Kriel will get an opportunity at outside centre, alongside Cornal Hendricks.

Richard Kriel will earn his URC debut when he lines up on the left wing.

On the bench, Lizo Gqoboka has been named as a tighthead-prop replacement, while Sintu Manjezi returns from a long-term injury.

Bulls – 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 David Kriel, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Richard Kriel, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Lizo Gqoboka, 19 Jacques du Plessis, 20 Sintu Manjezi, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Harold Vorster.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images