While regular Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi will once again anchor the scrum at the back, he will not be leading the team onto the pitch on this occasion.

For the first time in six months, head coach John Plumtree finds himself in the fortunate position of naming his strongest possible match-day squad – a significant boost as the team welcomes back Springbok stars Lukhanyo Am and Aphelele Fassi to the starting XV. Adding to the positive news, Grant Williams is set to make his return via the bench.

Eben Etzebeth. Photo: Morgan Piek

Sharks coach John Plumtree said Etzebeth was named as the team’s captain at the start of the season, and he feels it will be more worthwhile for Kolisi to focus on his own game.

“Eben was named our captain at the start of the season, and I've got two really good leaders, obviously, in Eben and Siya.

“They work well together, so that’s how we manage what is too long a season to have just one captain. Siya has done a great job in that space, but it will be good for him to just focus on his game and allow Eben to make the big calls.”

They’ll need to be at their absolute best against an in-form Edinburgh outfit, who recently secured a home EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final berth against Bath after triumphing over the Bulls in last week’s quarter-final.

Plumtree added that while they’ve named a strong team, their challenge will be to get everyone on the same page during the game, as several players haven’t played in quite some time.

“As much as you know it is a strong Sharks side on paper, the challenge will be for us to get our game going,” said Plumtree.

Lukhanyo Am. Photo: Morgan Piek

“A lot of the boys haven’t played for a little while – four or five of them – so that’s what we’ve been working really hard on over the last ten days, or probably closer to two weeks. Hopefully, we’ll see them click into gear and get a bit of rhythm going in our game.”

Friday’s match between Sean Everitt’s Edinburgh and the Sharks at the DAM Health Stadium will kick off at 20:35.

Edinburgh – 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Harry Paterson, 13 Matt Currie, 12 James Lang, 11 Ross McCann, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ali Price, 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Ben Muncaster, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist (captain), 4 Sam Skinner, 3 D’arcy Rae, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements - 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Angus Williams, 19 Glen Young, 20 Freddy Douglas, 21 Charlie Shiel, 2 Cammy Scott, 23 Mosese Tuipulotu

Sharks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nché
Replacements – 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 James Venter, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Jurenzo Julius

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg