Bloemfontein – Free State Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské has included young flyhalf sensation Johan Goosen in his starting line-up for the Currie Cup clash against Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday.
Goosen will make his return to the field after he injured his shoulder in a Super Rugby match against the Highlanders in Bloemfontein earlier in the season.
He was sidelined for nearly four months after surgery to his shoulder and will make his comeback partnering with scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius.
Goosen was promoted to the starting line-up in the place of Riaan Smit, who dislocated his shoulder in the Cheetahs' 32-18
victory over the Blue Bulls over the weekend.
Smit along with scrumhalf Piet van Zyl, who broke his collarbone, will be sidelined for the rest of the season.
Drotské also included winger Rayno Benjamin in his run-on side while Tewis de Bruyn will be the replacement scrumhalf.
Cheetahs team: Hennie Daniller, Rayno Benjamin, Robert Ebersohn (captain), Barry Geel, Raymond Rhule, Johan Goosen, Sarel Pretorius, Kabamba Floors, Lappies Labuschagne, Frans Viljoen, Andries Ferreira, Izak van der Westhuizen, Marcel van der Merwe, Hercu Liebenberg, Trevor Nyakane. Replacements: Elandre Huggett, Schalk van der Merwe, Francois Uys, Davon Raubenheimer, Tewis du Bruyn, Sias Ebersohn, Nico Scheepers. – Sapa