Cape Town - Hooker Neil Rautenbach will lead the Stormers in their final pre-season match of the 2015 season - against the Boland Cavaliers at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 16:00).
Rautenbach is one of nine official Stormers pre-season squad members in a youthful match-day group that has been pressed into action following injuries to Eben Etzebeth, Manuel Carizza and Kobus van Wyk.
Star performers Frans Malherbe, Ruan Botha, Siya Kolisi, Nizaam Carr and Damian de Allende are also unavailable for selection this week, giving young talent like Jarryd Sage, Kyle Lombard and Luke van der Smit an opportunity in this annual fixture alongside Stormers squad members EW Viljoen, Robert du Preez, Godlen Masimla, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, David Ribbans, Michael Willemse, Frans van Wyk, Oliver Kebble and Rautenbach.
SA Sevens stars Tshotsho Mbovane and Danwel Demas will give the Stormers some pace and additional skill out wide, whilst former England Sevens ace Mathew Turner has moved onto the bench for this encounter following the above-mentioned injuries in the playing group.
WPRU communications manager Howard Kahn confirmed to Sport24 on Thursday that Turner still has not signed a contract with the union and will, presumably, be paid on a match-by-match basis.
Newly-appointed Western Province Currie Cup coach, John Dobson, will take charge of this team come kick-off on Saturday, but Stormers head coach Allister Coetzee will continue to help prepare the side in the lead-up, along with his assistant coaches Matt Proudfoot and Robbie Fleck.
Meanwhile, a Western Province Emerging team will take on a Boland Invitational XV in a curtain-raiser at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 14:00).
Jerome Paarwater will coach a team consisting of the union’s best non-contracted players - all of whom will have the opportunity of pushing for Vodacom Cup selection this season.
Stormers team:
15. EW Viljoen, 14. Tshotsho Mbovane, 13. Jarryd Sage, 12. Kyle Lombard, 11. Danwel Demas, 10. Robert du Preez, 9. Godlen Masimla, 8. Sikumbuzo Notshe, 7. Luke van der Smit 6. Michael Willemse, 5. Chris van Zyl, 4. David Ribbans, 3. Frans van Wyk, 2. Neil Rautenbach (captain), 1. Oli Kebble
Substitutes: 16. Liam Hendricks, 17. Deacon Chowlse, 18. Burger van Niekerk, 19. Johan Momsen, 20. Luke Stringer, 21. Justin Phillips, 22. SP Ferreira, 23. Ryno Eksteen, 24. Mathew Turner, 25. Shuiab Samaai
Western Province Emerging team to face Boland:
15. Heinrich Arendse (Young stars), 14. Jaco van Wyk (Milnerton), 13. Lubabalo Quluba (Youn Peoples), 12. Eathan Coenraad (Bellville), 11. Steven Julies (Kraaifontein), 10. Shane Vallender (Hamiltons - captain), 9. Niyaaz Jappie (SK Walmers), 8. Christie Niekerk (Kuils River), 7. Brodie Blows (Villagers), 6. Waldo Etzebeth (Brackenfell), 5. Wade Schoor (Primrose), 4. Christiaan Burger (Milnerton), 3. Ryan Germishuys (Villagers), 2. Charlton van Jaarsveld (Tygerberg), 1. Dale Dunn (Milnerton)
Substitutes: 16. Xander Kuys (Kraaifontein), 17. Sikho Langa (Langa), 18. Christo van Wyk (Tygerberg), 19. Nezaam Bewee (Primrose), 20. Madeeg Davids (SK Walmers), 21. Ruan Vermaak (Milnerton), 22. Emile Etzebeth (Brackenfell), 23. Jerome Mgaga (Khayelitsha), 24. Maxwell Stoffels (Bellville), 25. Jason van Rooyen (Kuilsriver), 26. Andy Huysamen (Northerns), 27. Anthony Taylor (Young stars), 28. Fabian van der Vent (Young stars), 29. Monre Lingeveldt (Hamiltons), 30. Sibusiso Monco (Khayelitsha)