The lock Carl Wegner will captain a more settled Toyota Cheetahs team on Sunday for their SA Cup round five clash against the Griffons in Welcome.

The Cheetahs opted to field a strong team for the Free State derby as they brace for a gruelling and physical challenge.

S’bu Nkosi and Daniel Kasende return to play on the wing, while Abner van Reenen retains the number ten jersey.

The soon to retire Ruan Pienaar is back in the team while Rewan Kruger rotates to the bench.

Sibabalo Qoma will start at 8th-man again while Friedle Olivier and Gideon van der Merwe will play on the flank. In the second row Mzwanele Zito gets another start and he forms the lock combination with Wegner.

The two Namibian internationals Aranos Coetzee and Chucky van der Westhuizen will play at tighthead and hooker respectively, while Alulutho Tshakweni earns a rare start at loosehead.

The Director of Rugby, Frans Steyn, told OFM Sport that they have made changes to manage and strengthen the squad, while they have to improve on the 59-26 win against Eastern Province.

“We’ve made a couple of changes again. We must go out and get as many points as possible, and I think that’s where the disappointment comes in in the game against Eastern Province.

“We have to take as many points as possible per game, and this week, we will try to get back to our standard. We need to give players opportunities and see where we are as a squad. We want to win, but there are more important things going on at the moment.”

The Cheetahs also currently have 13 players out with injuries, while Victor Sekekete, Jeandré Rudolph and Evardi Boshoff are with the Ospreys for their URC games against the Stormers and Bulls.

Sunday’s derby in Welkom kicks off at 15:00.

Griffons - 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Duren Hoffman, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12 Duan Pretorius (captain), 11 Gurshwin Wehr, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Richman Gora, 8 Ludio Williams, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Michael Benadie, 4 Wikus Niewenhuis, 3 Moango Ngundue, 2 Dandré Delport, 1 Simon Westraadt

Replacements – 16 HP v Schoor, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Doctor Booysen, 19 Rian Olivier, 20 Jean Pretorius, 21 Keanu Vers, 22 Jaywinn Juries, 23 Randy Fillies

Cheetahs - 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Dan Kasende, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Andell Loubser, 11 S’bu Nkosi, 10 Abner van Reenen, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Siba Qoma, 7 Friedle Olivier, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Carl Wegner (captain), 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Chucky van der Westhuizen, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni

Replacements – 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Justin Forwood, 19 Thabang Mahlasi, 20 Sisonke Vumazonke, 21 Marco Janse van Vuren, 22 George Lourens, 23 Rewan Kruger

Morgan Piek OFM Sport