Cape Town - The Kings have picked an all-South African starting team for their Super Rugby opener against the Force in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

The run-on team includes three Springbok players in centre Andries Strauss, hooker Bandise Maku and captain Luke Watson.

Kenyan forward Daniel Adongo and Kiwi utility back Hadleigh Parkes were named on the bench as the only foreign players in the match-day squad.

The Kings' three other foreign players were not considered due to injury. Argentine scrumhalf Nicolas Vergallo is struggling with a muscle injury in his lower body, while his compatriot, flank Tomas Leonardi, is struggling with a chest injury. Also, French hooker Virgile Lacombe will be sidelined for a few more weeks with a back injury.

The Kings recently included all five of their imports in a 35-man squad released to SANZAR, ignoring the South African Rugby Union's rule which allows only two foreign players.

The clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium kicks off 19:10 on Saturday evening.

Teams:

Kings:

15 SP Marais, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Marcello Sampson, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Luke Watson (captain), 7 Wimpie van der Walt, 5 Steven Sykes, 4 David Bulbring, 6 Cornell du Preez, 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Schalk Ferreira.

Substitutes: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Jaco Engels, 18 Daniel Adongo, 19 Jacques Engelbrecht , 20 Johan Herbst, 21 George Whitehead, 22 Hadleigh Parkes.

Force:

TBA