Flyhalf Kade Wolhuter starts, while lock Gary Porter will make his debut for the DHL Stormers to face Scarlets in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship at Cape Town Stadium on Friday.

Stormers coach John Dobson has picked a much-changed lineup for the defending URC champions’ return to action after a three-week hiatus in the competition.

Making his first appearance of the 2022-23 URC campaign, Wolhuter will partner Paul de Wet at halfback, with the returning Jean-Luc du Plessis and Springbok scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies to provide cover off the bench, respectively.

Porter, who signed with the Capetonians in pre-season, slots into the second row with captain Ernst van Rhyn.

ALSO: Dobbo’s Diary: Bring the big noise on Friday!

Outside centre Cornel Smit will also get his first run out in the URC this season, while Hacjivah Dayimani packs down at No 8 in an exciting but youthful loose trio with Marcel Theunissen and Junior Pokomela.

Hooker Joseph Dweba returns from Bok duty alongside seasoned props Alistair Vermaak and Neethling Fouche, with South Africa ‘A’ speedster Leolin Zas picked in a dangerous back three with Clayton Blommetjies and Angelo Davids.

Also back from SA ‘A’ action is JJ Kotze, who is named among the replacements with promising youngsters Leon Lyons, Sazi Sandi, Connor Evans and BJ Dixon.

MORE: By the numbers: Stormers vs Scarlets

Stormers – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (c), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Subs: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 BJ Dixon, 21 Nama Xaba, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis.

URC 2022/23: Get to know Scarlets

Photo: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix