The team's regular captain, Francois Venter, could be making his first appearance this season after undergoing ankle surgery in December.

Should the Springbok centre be fit enough to make his return, he could patrol the midfield with Nico Lee who could also return from injury. Venter may be eased into the Super Rugby and play off the bench with Clinton Swart and Nico Lee starting.

The versatile prop Ox Nche could also make his return from injury after sustaining a knee injury late in the match against the Sunwolves.

The Cheetahs have bolstered their depth on the wing by securing the services of the former Springbok U20 winger, Luther Obi.

Obi has joined the team on a two-year deal from the Bulls.

It is highly unlikely that the player would be playing for the Cheetahs as soon as this weekend seeing that he only joined the side on Monday.

The Cheetahs Director of Rugby, Rory Duncan, told OFM Sport that after releasing Mosolwa Mafuma to the national sevens team that they had been hunting for a winger for quite some time.

“With the injuries to Sergeal Petersen and Raymond Rhule and the release of Mafuma to the Sevens we were a bit thin in that position.

“We were busy scouting for wings and Luther’s name came up in conversation, he was available so we snapped him up.

“He is a player that actually stood out a couple of years ago when we had that tough game against the Kings in Port Elizabeth.

“I was the first time I really noticed him and since then he has played a few games for the Kings and the Bulls.

“He looked pretty good in the warm-up games so I’m pretty excited to see him in a Cheetahs jersey.

Franco Smith will be naming his side, to tackle the Sharks, tomorrow morning.

Saturday’s match at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein kicks off at 17:15. 

Morgan Piek OFM Sport