Johannesburg – Attacking midfielder Johann Sadie will start in his first Currie Cup match for the Blue Bulls in Saturday's clash against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld.
Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar made four changes to the side that went down 32-18 to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last weekend.
Sadie replaces Ulrich Beyers, who will return to the under-21
side in the only change in the backline.
Captain Dewald Potgieter will return to number eight after he was ruled out shortly before kick-off last week, with CJ Stander moving to the side of the scrum.
Grant Hattingh, who played on the flank last week, moves to lock in place of Cornell Hess.
The Blue Bulls were further boosted by the return of tighthead prop Werner Kruger, with Frik Kirsten moving to the bench.
Among the reserves, Arno Botha comes back after a hamstring injury and former Golden Lions scrumhalf Rudy Paige could earn a first start.
“The Sharks are log leaders and undefeated; need I say more about the challenge we have,” Pienaar said on Wednesday.
“We were not at our best last week in Bloemfontein and have no option 1/8but 3/8 to recover and rebound from that if we want to beat the Sharks. We have some players back and that will make a difference in the way we play.”
Blue Bulls team: Jürgen Visser, Akona Ndungane, Johann Sadie, Francois Venter, Clayton Blommetjies, Louis Fouchè, Ruan Snyman, Dewald Potgieter (captain), CJ Stander, Deon Stegmann, Grant Hattingh, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Werner Kruger, Willie Wepener, Dawie Steyn. Replacements: Robbie Coetzee, Frik Kirsten, Cornell Hess, Arno Botha, Rudy Paige, Lionel Cronjè, Jan Serfontein. – Sapa