Drotské wary of Reds threat

Bloemfontein - Cheetahs coach, Naka Drotské has said that he is aware that despite facing a wounded Reds team in Bloemfontein, the Australian outfit still pose a threat.

The Reds have lost six matches in a row.

Last year they also lost six on the trot (Rounds 8-14), but their worst-ever losing sequence of nine straight defeats was between February and April 2007.

Meanwhile, the Cheetahs come off an impressive win over the Force in Perth and will be hoping to carry that form upon their return to Bloemfontein.

History will be on the Drotske's charges' favour as it’s been more than five years since the Reds’ last victory in Bloemfontein – on 26 March 2010 when they won 31-10.

It was the only time in four starts that the Cheetahs had lost at home against the team from Brisbane.

Furthermore they have won 12 of their 18 encounters against Australian opposition.

However, despite this, Drotské is very wary of the task which awaits his team.

"Saturday is not going to be an easy game," he said.

"The Reds have a lot of game breakers and two of their best players are coming back or this encounter."

The Bloemfontein-based side have made only one change to their match-23 for this encounter, resting Springbok fullback Willie le Roux.

His place will be taken by Coenie van Wyk, who played for the Lions last year but will make his debut for the men in orange.

"We’ve put a lot of pressure on ourselves and we need to win.

"If we play the way we know we can play and keep to our structures, then I believe we can win.

"It is in our hands," concluded Drotské.

Teams:

Cheetahs

15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Joe Pietersen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Boom Prinsloo, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 BG Uys

Substitutes: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Danie Minnie, 18 Maks van Dyk, 19 Steven Sykes, 20 Tienie Burger, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Willie du Plessis, 23 Rayno Benjamin

Reds

15 Karmichael Hunt, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 James O’Connor, 10 Nick Frisby, 9 Will Genia, 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Curtis Browning, 5 James Horwill, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 James Hanson, 1 James Slipper (captain)

Substitutes: 16. Andrew Ready, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Marco Kotze, 20 Adam Korczyk, 21 Anthony Fainga’a, 22 Campbell Magnay, 23 Chris Kuridran