CAPE TOWN - Stormers coach Robbie Fleck has gone with a few interesting selections for their season-opener against the Bulls at Newlands on Saturday (kick-off:19:30).
In the backline, attacking maestro Cheslin Kolbe moves from fullback to wing, while SP Marais, who joined the Stormers from the Bulls during the pre-season, will take over at No 15 against his former team.
Dillyn Leyds will be the other man out wide, while Damian de Allende will partner up with EW Viljoen, who will make his Super Rugby debut this weekend, in midfield.
At No 10, Jean-Luc du Plessis will pull the strings with Jano Vermaak at scrumhalf, and up front Fleck has rewarded Wilco Louw for his pre-season efforts with a starting berth at tighthead.
There are also two Stormers debutants on the bench in the form of hooker Ramone Samuels and utility back Dan Kriel.
Stormers: 15 SP Marais, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Siya Kolisi (captain), 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Dan Kriel, 23 Robert du Preez