Durban - The Sharks have named one of their strongest squads of the Absa Currie Cup tournament this season for their semi-final against the Free State Cheetahs in Durban on Saturday. Kick-off is at 14:30.

According to Sharks website editor Michael Marnewick, the whole front row has changed with "Beast" Mtawarira, Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis named to start, while the medical staff will deliver a late decision on Jean Deysel - who has been bracketed with Anton Bresler at lock - on Friday.

Willem Alberts, Ryan Kankowski and captain Keegan Daniel form a potentially devastating loose forward trio while JP Pietersen starts ahead of Lwazi Mvovo who has been struggling with his hamstring. He will play off the bench along with Adrian Jacobs who replaces Jacques-Louis Potgieter.

"Everyone has to bring energy - this is a big game, a huge game," explained Plumtree. "It was great to have the Boks back last week, but after having to integrate them, this week we're a team, everyone has a big responsibility, not just them."

In a significant milestone, flank Jacques Botes will play in his 100th Currie Cup game for the Sharks.

"Since 2005, I've had some good times at the Sharks and I'm very grateful to still be playing," Botes explained, "and there are still a few more game left in the tank. It's been awesome, it's gone fairly quickly and I'm excited to celebrate it in front of a home crowd."

Teams:

Sharks :
15. Patrick Lambie, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Stefan Terblanche, 12. Marius Joubert, 11. JP Pietersen, 10. Frederic Michalak, 9. Conrad Hoffmann, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Willem Alberts, 6. Keegan Daniel (captain), 5. Ross Skeate, 4. Jean Deysel / Anton Bresler, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16. Craig Burden, 17. Eugene van Staden, 18. Marcell Coetzee, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Ross Cronje, 21. Adrian Jacobs, 22. Lwazi Mvovo

Free State Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Ryno Benjamin, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Cameron Jacobs, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Pieter Labuschagne, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Philip van der Walt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Marcel van der Merwe

Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Johan Wessels, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Nico Scheepers