Lock JD Schickerling will become the latest player to reach 50 caps for the DHL Stormers in the Investec Champions Cup clash with the Sale Sharks at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
The imposing second-row forward will join the likes of captain Salmaan Moerat, fullback Warrick Gelant, hookers Joseph Dweba and Andre-Hugo Venter and loose forward Willie Engelbrecht in bringing up his half-century for the DHL Stormers this season when he leads the team out to face the English Premiership team at 15h00 on Saturday.
In the backline wing Ben Loader makes his return from injury in place of Seabelo Senatla who has been ruled out with a hamstring niggle and Stefan Ungerer starts at scrumhalf. Jonathan Roche will make his first start for the DHL Stormers as he forms an all-new midfield pairing with Wandisile Simelane, with Ruhan Nel sidelined with a minor rib injury.
Up front prop, Sti Sithole is also back from injury and starts alongside hooker JJ Kotze, with Dave Ewers at blindside flank in the only other change to the forward pack.
Fit-again loose forward Evan Roos is included on a replacement bench which also features the likes of Venter, Ali Vermaak and lock Ruben van Heerden.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that his team would like to build on their wins in the Vodacom URC festive derbies and carry some momentum into the new year.
“We saw some good progress in the two derbies, with the incredible home support making a huge difference.
“We know that this game is a must-win for us to have a chance of making the knock-out phase of the Investec Champions Cup, so we will be giving it everything we have.
“It is fantastic to welcome back the likes of Ben Loader, Sti Sithole and Evan Roos and hopefully they will all make a big impression in what should be a tough game against a physical Sale Sharks side,” he said.
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Dave Ewers, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis.