Despite numerous injuries, they have still managed to select a strong side, but it will be a matter of gelling on the field of play, and being smart about how they go about facing Boland who are coached by Hawies Fourie.

George Lourens will start at flyhalf for the opening-round match, while Jooste Nel and Raegan Oranje will form the centre pairing. Ethan Wentzel is still recovering from a back niggle, which gives Lourens a rare opportunity to start as the backline marshal.

Oranje will make his first appearance for the Cheetahs in more than a year after several setbacks due to a knee injury.

Raegan Oranje - Morgan Piek

Up front, Jeandré Rudolph, Pierre Uys, and Neels Volschenk will start in the back row. Carl Wegner returns from injury and will partner captain Victor Sekekete in the second row.

Namibian international hooker Chucky van der Westhuizen will wear the No. 2 jersey, with Hencus van Wyk and Aranos Coetzee starting at prop.

The bench will see the live-wire Andisa Ntsila get a rare opportunity, while the exciting centre, Banie Britz, is fit and available to play again following a long injury lay-off.

Volschenk told OFM Sport that they need to be smart about their expansive game.

“I think we don’t want to put ourselves under unnecessary pressure by playing an expansive brand of rugby and making avoidable mistakes,” said the young flanker, who captained the Cheetahs against the Griffons in the Toyota Challenge last year.

“It’s about picking the right moments—identifying opportunities at the right time to play the kind of rugby we want to play.

Banie Britz - Morgan Piek

“This is our first game of the season, so it’s not always going to be smooth sailing, but we still have four days to prepare.

“I think our preseason was good, and we know what we need to do and when.”

Saturday’s match in Wellington will kick-off at 15:00.

Boland – TBA

Cheetahs - 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Reagan Oranje, 12 Jooste Nel, 11 Litha Nkula, 10 George Lourens, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Neels Volschenk, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Chucky van der Westhuizen, 1 Hencus van Wyk

Replacements - 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Dux Manyana, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Andisa Ntsila, 22 Daniel Maartens, 22 Jandré Nel, 23 Banie Britz

Morgan Piek OFM Sport