The Toyota Cheetahs flyhalf, George Lourens, will be looking to impress on Saturday when play against the Western Force in Bloemfontein.

Lourens will start at flyhalf for the game against the Australian Super Rugby franchise, and it is an opportunity for him as well as his halfback partner Ruben de Haas to stake a claim at not just the tour to Australia, but also for the squad that will compete in the EPCR Challenge Cup later in the year.

Lourens joined the Cheetahs at the conclusion of last year’s Varsity Cup but has enjoyed limited game time. De Haas in turn will make his return in a Cheetahs jersey following a two-year spell at Saracens in England where he played alongside the likes of the suspended England captain, Owen Farrell.

The former Shimlas star, Lourens, told OFM Sport that it’s a big game and he wants to seize the opportunity.

“We are really hungry,” said Lourens.

“Like you said, it's a lot of fringe players that will be playing and we want to take the opportunity as best as we can. The guys are hungry to play and the other guys have played a lot of matches, so the bodies need a bit of a rest and hopefully we can contribute.

“The goal is to get into a starting position and make the team to go overseas and just be a part of it. I think if we can put in a good performance this weekend, we should get the nod.”

On the new halfback combination that will be fielded this week, Lourens feels that he and Ruben de Haas are on the same page and he is excited to link up with the American international on the field of play.

“Ruben and I have been training together for just over a week, so it's not that long, but I already feel that we are trying to play the same type of rugby. We have been gelling quite nicely, so I'm excited to see what’s going to happen.”

Saturday’s game between the Cheetahs and Force at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 15:00.

Cheetahs - 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Raegan Oranje, 13 David Brits, 12 Abner van Reenen, 11 Marcell Muller, 10 George Lourens, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Jeandré Rudolph (captain), 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Schalk Ferreira.

Replacements - 16 Janus Venter, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Victor Sekekete, 20 Andisa Ntsila, 21 Friedle Olivier, 22 Ruan Pienaar, 23 Robert Ebersohn.

Western Force - 15 Harry Potter, 14 George Poolman, 13 Sam Sprink, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Ronan Leahy, 10 MAx Burey, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Jeremy Williams, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Donny Freeman, 5 Lopeti Faifua, 4 Jackson Pugh, 3 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 2 Tom Horton, Marley Pearce.

Replacements - 16 Ford Hemi, 17 Angus Wagner, 18 Regi Churchward, 19 Fa’amanu Kalolo, 20 Albert Alcock, 21 Ian Prior, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Gio Leituala.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport