Cape Town - Head coach John Dobson has not tampered too much with the team that did duty in Durban last weekend, as Western Province prepare to host the in-form Blue Bulls in Absa Currie Cup action at Newlands on Friday night (kick-off 19h00).
The only change to the starting line-up sees Bongi Mbonambi start at hooker, with Scarra Ntubeni moving down to the replacements' bench where he will be joined by fit-again No.8 Nizaam Carr, who replaces Jurie van Vuuren.
Carr, who took over the captaincy earlier this season from injured squad leader Juan de Jongh, missed the Sharks game with a hamstring injury and will, wisely, be blooded back via the bench this week.
Scrumhalf Nic Groom will again lead WP into battle, as he did last week, with young Robert du Preez making his second successive start in the No.10 jersey after his impressive display last week as a late replacement for Kurt Coleman.
WP boss Dobson told the www.wprugby.com website: “We're fortunate to have Nizaam coming off the bench, from a leadership point of view, after Nic led the team well last week.
“Kurt is obviously still out, but Robert did nicely last week and it's a great opportunity for him to start his first Absa Currie Cup match at DHL Newlands.
“Bongi, meanwhile, is deserved of a start against his old team - in a rotational switch - and we're looking to Scarra to provide a similar impact (to Bongi's) off the bench this week.”
The Western Province team for Friday (v Vodacom Blue Bulls, home) is as follows: 15. Cheslin Kolbe 14. Dillyn Leyds 13. Johnny Kotze 12. Huw Jones 11. Seabelo Senatla 10. Robert du Preez 9. Nic Groom (captain) 8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe 7. Rynhardt Elstadt 6. Chris Cloete 5. Ruan Botha 4. Jean Kleyn 3. Wilco Louw 2. Bongi Mbonambi 1. Steven Kitshoff Replacements: 16. Scarra Ntubeni 17. Oli Kebble 18. Chris van Zyl 19. Nizaam Carr 20. Jano Vermaak 21. Demetri Catrakilis 22. Kobus van Wyk Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge - African News Agency (ANA)