Whether it is a nod towards the Sharks’ most capped player and top try scorer, or not, handing JP Pietersen the captain’s armband on his swansong at Kings Park is quite a fitting tribute for the wing before he leaves for Leicester.
The Sharks face off against the lowly Sunwolves (tomorrow, 7.10pm) with a task at hand. In order to confirm the wildcard spot that they currently posses, they need a win. The Bulls are hot on their heels, but fate rests within the hands of the men from Durban.
As such, coach Gary Gold has made a few tactical changes, as well as some enforced ones. Notably, stand-in captain Beast Mtawarira is rested after a busy international period giving Thomas du Toit a shot at the No 1 jersey.
Odwa Ndungane returns, on the wing, and at the expense of S’Bura Sithole who drops away entirely, with last week’s try scorer Stefan Ungerer getting a rare start ahead of veteran Michael Claassens at nine.
In the forwards, Jean-Luc du Preez is suffering from a bout of concussion which sees Tera Mtembu start in his continued, and long-awaited, return to rugby. Ruan Botha also makes his starting debut for the Sharks, with Chiliboy Ralepelle getting a rare start.
Perhaps the biggest piece of news is that Pat Lambie continues to play a game of will-he, won’t-he, by being bracketed on the bench with Curwin Bosch.
Sharks STARTING XV: Rhyno Smith, Odwa Ndungane, JP Pietersen (captain), Andre Esterhuizen, Lwazi Mvovo, Garth April, Stefan Ungerer, Philip van der Walt, Lubabalo Mtembu, Keegan Daniel, Ruan Botha, Etienne Oosthuizen, Coenie Oosthuizen, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Thomas du Toit; Replacements: Kyle Cooper, Dale Chadwick, Lourens Adriaanse, Stephan Lewies, Jean Deysel, Michael Claassens, Curwin Bosch/Pat Lambie, Heimar Williams - The Star