There are five changes to the DHL Stormers XXIII for the Carling Currie Cup encounter with Airlink Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.
Four of the changes to the starting line-up come in the forward pack, for the clash with the Mpumalanga side, which kicks off at 17h00 on Saturday.
In the only backline change, wing Joel Leotlela makes his first appearance of the season, in place of Suleiman Hartzenberg, who picked up a minor injury against the Toyota Cheetahs at Athlone Stadium on Sunday.
JC Mars is included on the replacements bench, providing backline cover along with halfbacks Ezekiel Ngobeni and Kyle Smith.
Loose forwards Wandile Mlaba and Keke Morabe will both start, along with props Mhleli Khuzwayo and Herman Lubbe in the four changes to the forward pack.
Head Coach Tom Dawson-Squibb said that his charges will need an 80-minute performance to secure what would be a valuable win on the road.
“We are very happy to have the likes of Wandi, Keke and Herman back in the starting line-up after featuring in the match against New Zealand last week, and we expect them to add some grunt up front.
“It is always tough to go to Mbombela Stadium, and we will need to be on the money throughout to get the win, but it is a challenge that we are looking forward to,” he said.
DHL Stormers XXIII: 15 Dylan Miller, 14 Joel Leotlela, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Mfundo Ndhlovu, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis (captain), 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Keke Morabe, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Tom Barnard, 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Mhleli Khuzwayo. Replacements: 16 Altus Rabe, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Danie Kruger, 19 Luan Botha, 20 Xola Nyali, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Kyle Smith, 23 JC Mars.
