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Cape Town - Stormers coach Allister Coetzee says flyhalf Peter Grant needs time to get used to their structures again, hence his inclusion on the bench for Saturday's Super Rugby derby against the Sharks at Newlands.
Grant has just returned from a club rugby stint in Japan and, according to Coetzee, will be eased into action.
"As good as it is to have Peter back he'll need time to get used to a few things," Coetzee said on Wednesday.
"He's in good condition but there's a lot for him to absorb ahead of the match so he'll play off the bench.
"Our systems haven't changed a lot [since he last played for us].
"I've gone with Gary [van Aswegen] again and I'm comfortable with the youngster.
"We have got to back our players, and I know he'll be much improved this week."
Juan de Jongh returns to the Stormers side in place of Bryan Habana at outside centre.
Winger Gerhard van den Heever joins the reserves to accommodate Habana who will play in his preferred position at left wing.
Gio Aplon, who played left wing against the Hurricanes last week, has been moved to the right. He said the switch would not require much change in general play.
"There's not a great deal of adjustment when one moves to the opposite wing because playing in any of the back three positions is really the same," Aplon said.
"Last week we played well up front but this week we'll be looking to strike a balance as the backs try to step up their performance."
Jean de Villiers, the Stormers' stand-in captain (Schalk Burger is out injured), said he was looking forward to lining up alongside De Jongh again because he felt the Sharks, with JP Pietersen's inclusion at centre, posed a "massive midfield" threat.
Coetzee said Springbok prop Deon Carstens was not considered for selection because he was nursing a chest injury.
"Deon is working out in the gym and he'll only be ready to play against the Blues [in two weeks' time]," Coetzee said.
One player who will be in the spotlight this week is flank Siya Kolisi who turned in an impressive performance after replacing the injured Burger early in the first half against the Hurricanes last week.
He's moved off the bench for a run-on slot, and the exciting rookie Nizaam Carr gets a call-up among the reserves.
Teams:
Stormers:
15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Nizaam Carr, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Peter Grant, 22 Gerhard van den Heever
Sharks:
TBA
Referee: Mark Lawrence
