Steven Kitshoff will make his return from injury in the blue and white hoops of DHL Western Province at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday as WP take on the Fidelity ADT Lions in a Carling Currie Cup clash that kicks off at 3pm in Johannesburg.
Kitshoff is joined in the front row by hooker and captain Scarra Ntubeni, who he played alongside in the 2012 Carling Currie Cup Final and Junior Springbok skipper Zachary Porthen who makes his first start for the senior side.
The other changes to the forward pack see Andre Goedhals start in the second row in place of the injured Gary Porter, while there is also an all-new loose trio of CJ Velleman, a fit-again Louw Nel and Divan Fuller at No 8.
Dewaldt Duvenage will partner Jurie Matthee at halfback, with Wandisile Simelane at outside centre in the only change to the backline.
Springbok hooker Andre-Hugo Venter is on a replacements bench which also features Maties scrumhalf Ezekiel Ngobeni, who is in line to make his debut.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that the addition of two Springbok front row forwards is a big boost ahead of the trip to Johannesburg.
"Steven and Andre-Hugo are top players who will add a lot, while the return of players such as Louw Nel, CJ Velleman and Wandisile Simelane also strengthens our team.
"It will be a big challenge up in Johannesburg and we are sure to see further growth from the players in this group, which is very exciting," he said.
Fidelity ADT Lions starting XV: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Kelly Mpeku, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Tapiwa Mafura; 10 Bronson Mills, 9 Nico Steyn; 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Sibabalo Qoma, 6 Renzo du Plessis; 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman (capt); 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Morne Brandon, 1 SJ Kotze. Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Tiaan Wessels, 21 Luca Ribbens, 22 Layton Horn, 23 Zander du Plessis.
DHL Western Province starting XV: 15 Luke Burger, 14 JC Mars, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Angelo Davids; 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage; 8 Divan Fuller, 7 Louw Nel, 6 CJ Velleman; 5 Handre Stassen, 4 Andre Goedhals; 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Scarra Ntubeni (capt), 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Enos Ndiao, 20 Paul de Villiers, 21 Sibusiso Sangweni, 22 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 23 Joshua Boulle.
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