At this stage, it was a waiting game for the coach Izak van der Westhuizen, as to see which players he would have at his disposal.

This is due to the Cheetahs still having to face the Southern Kings in their final Guinness Pro14 match of the season, and some of the players his squad are on due with the senior side.

The Free State will be captained by the hooker, Elandré Huggett, in the absence of the utility back, Ali Mgijima, who sustained an injury during a warm-up game.

The former Springbok winger, Jamba Ulengo, has been named in the starting XV after an unsuccessful trip to the Southern Kings where he went on trial in order to try and secure a contract.

An exciting inclusion to the team in on the bench where the UFS Shimlas flyhalf, Lubabalo Dobela, has been picked. It is a real opportunity of the former Baby Bok to impress Franco Smith or the future Cheetahs coach, ahead of the Currie Cup and 2019/2020 Guinness Pro14.

Saturday’s game which will be a curtain raiser to the Pro14 match between the Cheetahs and Kings at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 15:00.

Toyota Free State XV - 15 Adriaan Carelse, 14 Tapiwa Mafura, 13 Aya Oliphant, 12 Marlou van Niekerk, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Ernst Stapelberg, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Daniel Maartens, 6 Otsile Ranthako, 5 Dennis Visser, 4 Keanan Murray, 3 Günther Janse van Vuuren, 2 Elandré Huggett, 1 Cameron Dawson.

Replacements – 16 Quintin Vorster, 17 Janus Venter, 18 Luyolo Dupula, 19 Bertie de Bod, 20 Dian Badenhorst, 21 Lubabalo Dobela 22 Carel Jan Coetzee.

Sharks XV - 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Sicelo Tole, 13 DJ Falconer, 12 Jeremy Ward (captain), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Murray Koster, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Wian Vosloo, 6 Adam Mountfort, 5 Andrew Evans, 4 Dylan Weideman, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Cullen Collopy, Gugu Lelani.

Replacements – 16 Nthutuko Thembu, 17 Roger Zondi, 18 MB Lusaseni, 19 Vian Fourie, 20 Zee Mkhabela, 21 Inny Radebe, 22 Charles Mayeza.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport