Cape Town – Western Province received a welcome boost this week as Pat Cilliers returned to the starting XV for their Currie Cup clash with the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday night.
Cilliers was the only change as coach Allister Coetzee opted for consistency for his team's tricky assignment against a Pumas team unbeaten at Mbombela Stadium.
Cilliers will return at tighthead prop, with Brok Harris moving down to the bench.
Scrumhalf Nic Groom and utility back Michael van der Spuy will join Harris on the bench this week, with coach Coetzee reverting to a more traditional four/three split on the bench.
The change means prop Oli Kebble misses out, after making his Currie Cup debut from the bench against Griquas at Newlands last weekend, while Godlen Masimla also drops out this week.
“It will be a tough challenge for us but one we're looking forward to,” Coetzee said ahead of the tie.
“The challenge is to win away from home in the Currie Cup, especially after slipping up in Johannesburg two weeks ago and we need to show the same kind of intensity and accuracy that we showed in the first half against Griquas, but for 80-plus minutes.”
With 29 points from seven games, Province are sitting pretty at the top of the standings, having claimed six victories.
The Pumas are in fourth position on 19 points.
Western Province team: Cheslin Kolbe, Kobus van Wyk, Juan de Jongh (captain), Jaco Taute, Justin Geduld, Demetri Catrakilis, Louis Schreuder, Nizaam Carr, Michael Rhodes, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Ruan Botha, Jean Kleyn, Pat Cilliers, Scarra Ntubeni, Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements: Neil Rautenbach, Brok Harris, Manuel Carizza, Rohan Kitshoff, Nic Groom, Kurt Coleman, Michael van der Spuy. – Sapa