Durban - Sharks coach John Plumtree has warned his team not to be complacent against the Cheetahs - a side with little to play for - in the final match of their league campaign at Kings Park on Saturday.
“The Cheetahs will come here wanting to finish the tournament on a high note,” Plumtree said.
“It is going to be hard because they always provide tough competition, it doesn’t matter whether they’re in the contest or not.”
Springbok Pat Lambie returns at fullback after missing last week's 32-10 win against the Bulls due to an ankle injury.
Bok loose forward Willem Alberts is also back, although he only makes the bench for the Kings Park clash which, as it stands, the hosts must win to guarantee their place in the top six and playoff places.
Lambie comes in for Louis Ludik at fullback in one of three changes to the starting line-up.
Lock Jandre Marais replaces injury doubtful Pieter-Steph du Toit at No 4, while hooker Bismarck du Plessis makes way for Craig Burden in the centre of the scrum.
Among the replacements, Du Toit will face a late fitness test and has been bracketed with Jean Deysel, while centre Paul Jordaan is also due to undergo last minute tests on his ankle with Meyer Bosman on standby.
Kick-off is at 17:05 on Saturday.
Teams:
Sharks:
15 Pat Lambie, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Keegan Daniel (captain), 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Jandre Marais, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Pieter-Steph du Toit/Jean Deysel, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Jacques Botes, 21 Meyer Bosman/Paul Jordaan, 22 Louis Ludik
Cheetahs:
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Philip Snyman, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane
Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Marcel van der Merwe, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Jacques Coetzee, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Andries Strauss