Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu takes over the DHL Stormers captaincy for the Investec Champions Cup encounter with Leicester Tigers at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
The DHL Stormers will be aiming to secure a place in the knock-out stages of the competition when the Round Four clash gets underway at 17:15 (SA Time) on Saturday.
With regular captain Salmaan Moerat unavailable due to a family engagement and both Warrick Gelant and Damian Willemse ruled out by concussion protocols, Feinberg-Mngomezulu will lead the team for the first time.
Wandisile Simelane will start at fullback and link up with wings Leolin Zas and Dylan Maart, with Suleiman Hartzenberg in midfield alongside Jonathan Roche, who also makes his return from a hand injury he picked up in the Vodacom URC win against the Lions late last year.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu partners Stefan Ungerer at halfback as Cobus Reinach continues his recovery from a knee injury sustained against the Vodacom Bulls. JC Mars, Imad Khan and Luke Burger are the backs on the replacements bench.
The loose trio of Evan Roos, Ben-Jason Dixon and Paul de Villiers is reunited, with Ruben van Heerden starting alongside JD Schickerling in the second row and Connor Evans and Marcel Theunissen set to make an impact in the second half.
The starting front row sees hooker André-Hugo Venter start with fellow Springboks Neethling Fouché and Ntuthuko Mchunu either side of him, while JJ Kotzé makes his return from injury on a replacements bench that also features props Vernon Matongo and Zachary Porthen.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that his team will be going all-out to secure a win that would guarantee their place in the Round of 16.
“The goal for us is simple – we must beat a good Leicester Tigers team to continue our journey in this competition. While we have been disrupted in some key positions, we have every faith that the players selected will rise to the occasion.
“We are back at home and determined to deliver a top performance in front of our fans. There is all to play for, not least of all the jersey that we wear and the people that we represent each week,” he said.
Please note that the DHL Stormers matchday squad will be officially announced by EPCR at 14h00 on Friday. As per competition rules, changes may be made up until that time.
DHL Stormers: 15 Wandisile Simelane, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (captain), 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Imad Khan, 22 Luke Burger, 23 JC Mars.