Lwazi Mvovo will start at fullback for the Sharks against the Waratahs at Kings Park on Saturday.
That sees SP Marais relegated to the bench.
In other changes to the backline, winger Odwa Ndungane returns to the side following compassionate leave, Fred Zeilinga comes in for the injured Pat Lambie at flyhalf and Charl McLeod replaces the injured Cobus Reinach at scrumhalf.
Up front, Willem Alberts shifts to No 4 lock following the loss through injury of Anton Bresler, with Alberts’ blindside flank position taken up by Jean Deysel.
There is a debut opportunity for scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer, who comes on to the bench, while Keegan Daniel returns to the match 23 having completed his injury recovery programme, along with Heimar Williams for André Esterhuizen.
Tim Swiel, who replaced Lambie at Loftus, and Tera Mtembu have also fallen out of the match 23.
Sharks – 15 Lwazi Mvovo, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 S’bura Sithole, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis (c), 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Keegan Daniel, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Heimar Williams, 23 SP Marais.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
