Siya Kolisi has returned to captain Western Province in their Currie Cup semi-final against the Sharks at Newlands, but the home side will be without Steven Kitshoff.

Having missed the previous two games due to Covid-19 protocols, Kolisi returns at openside flank for the playoff match, which kicks off at 4:30pm on Saturday.

There are two further changes to the forward pack that did duty against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, with lock Salmaan Moerat returning to starting lineup.

Province will, however, be without the services of Springbok loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff, who has been ruled out of the match through Covid-19 protocols.

The backline remains unchanged from the one that beat the Cheetahs.

Province head coach John Dobson said that his team is intent on making the most of every minute out on the Newlands pitch on Saturday.

‘We have earned the right to play this semi-final at Newlands and we want to deliver a fitting performance on Saturday.

‘We have had time to prepare properly and we are fielding a number of settled combinations, so the challenge is to go out there and put together an 80-minute performance and secure our place in the final next week.’

Western Province – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Subs (from): 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Ernst van Rhyn, 21 Jaco Coetzee, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Ruhan Nel, 24 Sazi Sandi, 25 Tristan Leyds.

Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images