Dewald Potgieter (Gallo Images)

JJ Harmse

Pretoria – With last year’s season ending on a high, Dewald Potgieter could not wait for the start of this season’s Super 14.

That is why the knee injury that has kept Dewald Potgieter out of action at the Bulls to date this season was a massive disappointment. However, that is now a thing of the past.

“I cannot wait to run on the field again on Saturday. For me the season only starts in all earnest now,” said Potgieter, who will wear the Bulls’ No 7 jersey for the first time this season against the Highlanders at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Potgieter was used as a substitute against the Waratahs and he showed that his knee injury is no longer an issue.

I am now operating at full steam, the 23-year-old blonde loose forward said.

“It feels like an eternity since I made my Test debut against Ireland on the November tour. I wanted to carry that highlight and the confidence into the Super 14. That is why the knee injury was so disappointing. It felt as if I had to start from scratch again,” said Potgieter.

The flanker was out of action for six weeks.

Potgieter replaces Pedrie Wannenburg, with Danie Rossouw and Pierre Spies the only other changes in the team that beat the Waratahs.

Spies is back at No 8 and Rossouw moves to lock again.

That means that Wannenburg and Flip van der Merwe will both be substitutes.

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke decided on a bench of five forwards and as a result scrumhalf Heini Adams has been omitted from the squad.

Adams will play for the Vodacom Cup side and Ludeke hopes that a full game will help him gain the necessary match-fitness.

“Fortunately Hougie (Francois Hougaard) can cover scrumhalf should anything happen to Fourie (du Preez) and that gives us the freedom to take on the Highlanders with a bench of five forwards and two backs,” said Ludeke.

Derick Kuün also keeps his place as fetching flank with Deon Stegmann still on the bench.

“We have a rotation policy that is accepted by everyone and Derick is getting an opportunity again,” explained Ludeke.

Kuün did his bit against the Waratahs and according to Potgieter, who has not previously played with the former hooker in a loose-trio, they should gel well.

“When Derick was hooker we combined nicely. He and Steggies play a very similar game and both have a very high work-rate. That makes it easy to play with them,” he said.

Bees Roux, who sustained a wound to his head against the scrumming machine, has been replaced as a substitute. Rossouw de Klerk, who played for the Blue Bulls as a 21-year-old in last year’s Currie Cup, replaces Roux. It will be his first appearance at Super 14 level.