The 29-year-old captained the Blue Bulls during the 2006 season when they drew the Currie Cup final with the Free State.
The Blue Bulls start their 2011 campaign against the defending champions in Durban on Saturday without a host of regular starting players involved at the Springboks.
Newly appointed Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar named former Tuks Varsity Cup player Jurgen Visser at fullback with regular starters Akona Ndungane and Gerhard van den Heever on the wings.
Loosehead prop Corne Fourie will also make his debut for the Blue Bulls.
Former Lions hooker Willie Wepener - who has just moved from French club Clermont - will play from the bench.
Standout Baby Bok centre Francois Venter has been included on the bench.
Teams:
Sharks:
TBA
Blue Bulls:
15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Gerhard van den Heever, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Dustin Jinka, 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Derick Kuün, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Fudge Mabeta, 3 Rossouw de Klerk, 2 Gary Botha (captain), 1 Corné Fourie
Substitutes: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Okkie Kruger, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 Marnitz Boshoff, 22 Francois Venter