Bloemfontein - Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské has named a strong team for their opening Currie Cup clash against the Leopards in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Springbok centre Andries Strauss is back to full fitness to captain the side, after he missed most of the Super Rugby competition due to injury.
Lock Waltie Vermeulen has also recovered in time from a shoulder injury he sustained in Super Rugby to make it into the starting XV.
Teams:
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Riaan Smit, 13 Corne Uys, 12 Andries Strauss (captain), 11 Ryno Benjamin, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Johan Wessels, 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Michael van Vuuren, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Substitutes: 16 PW van Vuuren, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen, 19 Pieter Myburgh, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Philip Snyman, 22 Philip Burger.
Leopards: TBA