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Nyakane, who recently extended his stay with the union, is fit again following an injury sustained in the Super Rugby tournament and raring to go as the Blue Bulls look for a solid performance in front of their home crowd in Pretoria.
Nyakane has not played Currie Cup rugby for the Blue Bulls yet but has represented the Griffons and Free State Cheetahs in the competition before his move to Pretoria in 2015.
Blue Bulls coach Pote Human made small tweaks to the side that lost 26-10 to the Sharks in Durban last weekend.
Jesse Kriel will return to the wider Springboks squad for the Rugby Championship and his place will be taken by JT Jackson, while up front, there are a couple of changes. Jano Venter starts at flank, swapping places with Thembelani Bholi, who will play off the bench, while the same occurs at lock, with Eli Snyman starting and Ruan Nortje coming off the bench.
Nyakane's inclusion is at the expense of Conraad van Vuuren, who moves to the bench, where he will find three new faces from last week. Ivan van Zyl will replace Andre Warner during the match and Tinus de Beer is back in the mix as back-up pivot. They replace Reagan Oranje and Tony Jantjies respectively. Duncan Matthews is also back in the match-day squad.
"We are back at home and as great as that is, our opponents will only make a short trip from Johannesburg, so will be keen to secure a win," Human said.
"There were some good things happening last weekend, but we need to make a huge step-up in execution this time around," the coach warned.
Blue Bulls captain, Hanro Liebenberg agreed.
"This is going to be a typical Jukskei derby and whoever wants to win, will have to work very hard for it. We are at home and we want to make a stand in front of our Bulls fmaily. We will be determined and motivated, but also need to be smart and effective."
Teams:
Blue Bulls
15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 JT Jackson, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Jano Venter, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Hendre Stassen, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Matthys Basson
Substitutes: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Conraad van Vuuren, 18 Ruan Nortje, 19 Thembelani Bholi, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Tinus de Beer, 22 Duncan Matthews
Golden Lions
15 Andries Coetzze, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Len Massyn, 6 James Venter, 5 Marvin Orie (captain), 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Johannes Jonker,2 Corne Fourie, 1 St Sithole
Substitutes: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Madosh Tambwe, 22 Wadisile Simelane
