Blue Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer has, as expected, called in the big guns for Saturday's Currie Cup semifinal against the Lions at Securicor Loftus.
All in all he made eleven changes to the side, but immediately rejected any thoughts that they may lose valuable momentum because of so many team switches in recent weeks.
The coach has restored his side's Springboks to the starting line-up giving the team a formidable look.
There is no doubt that this team is close to the strongest side the Bulls have put out this year.
Frikkie Welsh returns to partner Ettienne Botha in the midfield, while Keegan Fredericks fills in for John Mametsa on the wing. Mametsa was ruled out of the game on Tuesday because of injury.
The strong halfback duo Derick Hougaard and Fourie du Preez are back together while Anton Leonard resumes the captaincy and the No 8 position, with Pedrie Wannenburg, who had a great game against Western Province last weekend, dropping back to the bench.
Warren Brosnihan and Bok loose forward Jacques Cronje complete the loose trio while Victor Matfield is back in his regular spot to partner Bakkies Botha at lock.
In the front row Richard Bands, Gary Botha and Namibian powerhouse Kees Lensing are back.
But Meyer says that despite some people believing that he may not have followed the correct route in the last few weeks by playing what have been termed their second string outfits, this team are primed to peak when it matters.
"If you look at it, every player in the team has played a game in the past two weeks - either against the Cheetahs or Western Province - and critics should compare this to the Lions."
There Andre Pretorius and Bryan Habana have been out with injuries, so has Enrico Januarie, and these are all players in key positions, so why aren't people asking questions about the Lions?
"You lose momentum when you change things for a game like this and don't do what you have done the entire year," Meyer added.
"But we have been rotating our players the entire year and they are used to it. We play a structured game and we definitely won't lose any continuity."
Blue Bulls:
Johan Roets; Gavin Passens, Frikkie Welsh, Ettienne Botha, Keegan Fredericks; Derick Hougaard, Fourie du Preez; Anton Leonard (capt), Warren Bosnihan, Jacques Cronje; Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha; Richard Bands, Gary Botha, Kees Lensing. Reserves: Danie Coetzee, Wessel Roux, Danie Rossouw, Pedrie Wannenburg, Norman Jordaan, Morné Steyn, JP Nel.
Lions:
Jaque Fourie; John Daniels, Bryan Habana, Doppies la Grange, Jorrie Muller; Andre Pretorius, Enrico Januarie; Roland Reid, Wikus van Heerden (capt), Cobus Grobbelaar; Willem Stoltz, Cobus Grobler; Baksteen Nell, Schalk Brits, Pietman van Niekerk. Reserves: Lukas van Biljon, Heinrich Kok, Trevor Hall, Schalk van der Merwe, Nicholas Eyre, Nel Fourie, Conrad Jantjes.
Referee: Shaun Veldsman
Kick-off: 2.30pm