Pierre Spies (File)

Spies comes in for Danie Rossouw who moves to lock in place of Flip van der Merwe who drops to the bench.

On the other flank Derick Kuun is retained ahead of Deon Stegmann. “This is in accordance with our squad system and the agreement with players,” said Bulls coach Frans Ludeke at the team announcement on Wednesday.

“Every one of the players has been playing good rugby. The squad system is working well and all the players understand it.”

Ludeke has selected Stegmann and another loose forward, Pedrie Wannenburg, on the bench. He views the breakdown play of the Highlanders as one of their strong points for which he has made provision with the inclusion of the two additional loose forwards in a bench that boasts five forwards.

Prop Bees Roux was originally selected as one of the replacements but cut his eye against the scrumming machine on Wednesday morning. He is replaced on the bench by Rossouw de Klerk, who moves up from the Vodacom Cup side.

The versatility of wing Francois Hougaard who can cover at scrumhalf and the two backs on the bench, Jacques-Louis Potgieter and Jaco van der Westhuyzen who can cover the positions of flyhalf and centre in the case of Potgieter and fullback and flyhalf in the case of Van der Westhuyzen has made more backs on the bench an unnecessary luxury.

Springbok scrumhalf Heini Adams will therefore play for the Vodacom Blue Bulls in what could be a crunch match against the Golden Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The Bulls team is: Zane Kirchner, Gerhard van den Heever, Stephan Dippenaar, Wynand Olivier, Francois Hougaard, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Derick Kuun, Victor Matfield (capt.), Danie Rossouw, Werner Kruger, Gary Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp.

Substitutes: Bandise Maku, Rossouw de Klerk, Flip van der Merwe, Deon Stegmann, Pedrie Wannenburg, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Jaco van der Westhuyzen.