Sharks coach John Plumtree has named an unchanged backline and made three changes to his forward pack for their Currie Cup clash with the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Springbok loose forward Jean Deysel moves off the bench to replace No.8 Ryan Kankowski who broke his thumb in the defeat to the Lions in Johannesburg last week and he is joined in the loose trio by impressive young flank Marcell Coetzee and captain Keegan Daniel who has overcome a minor ankle injury.
There are two changes in the tight five with Anton Bresler making way for 22-year-old lock Jan Andre Marais who makes his second start for the Durban-based team. Alistair Hargreaves is on the replacements bench alongside Bresler after recovering from a bout of flu.
In the front row tighthead prop Eugene van Staden comes back into the starting XV at the expense of Wiehahn Herbst. Plumtree has opted to pick five forwards on the bench once more in an attempt to combat the altitude factor, with the versatile duo of Conrad Hoffman and Adi Jacobs the only backs warming the wood.
The Sharks managed to beat the Blue Bulls quite convincingly when the sides met in the first round at Kings Park, but the Pretoria side have looked a much more fluent outfit in recent weeks and Plumtree is well-aware that they are always a different prospect at fortress Loftus.
He said: "They're another good side, there isn't too much between all the top sides in the competition I believe, we're playing them away from home and we know what a massive challenge it is at Loftus, but it is achievable for us if we play good rugby.
Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Jean Deyself, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Keegan Daniel (captain), 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Jandre Marais, 3 Eugene van Staden, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Anton Bresler, 19 Alistair Hargreaves, 20 Jacques Botes, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Adrian Jacobs.
Date: Saturday, September 3
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant Referees: Tiaan Jonker, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: JC Fortuin
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