Lock JD Schickerling will play his 50th match for DHL Western Province in the Carling Currie Cup encounter with Suzuki Griquas in Kimberley on Friday.
Schickerling will be playing his first match in the blue and white hoops since returning from Japan earlier this year and lines up in a much-changed team, which will be led by centre Dan du Plessis when action gets underway at 15h00 on Friday.
Schickerling and Du Plessis played together for DHL Western Province at age-group level and featured in the same DHL Western Province U19 team in 2014 before coming through the senior ranks.
The starting line-up to face the Suzuki Griquas shows 14 changes from the team that ran out against the Airlink Pumas last week, with only fullback Luke Burger retaining his place.
Burger is joined by wings Angelo Davids and Leolin Zas in a potent back three, with Suleiman Hartzenberg combining in midfield with Du Plessis.
Paul de Wet and Jurie Matthee form the halfback pairing, while Stefan Ungerer, Wandisile Simelane and Damian Markus are on the replacements bench.
Schickerling links up with Ruben van Heerden behind a formidable front row of Sti Sithole, Neethling Fouche and Joseph Dweba. Louw Nel will pack down at the back of the scrum with Dave Ewers and Marcel Theunissen on the flanks.
There are three Springboks in Steven Kitshoff, Andre-Hugo Venter and Ben-Jason Dixon on a replacements bench that also features Sazi Sandi and Adre Smith.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that what his team needs most is a serious challenge, which is what they are expecting in Kimberley.
“This is the ideal match for us right now, we know how tough it can be to play in Kimberley in the afternoon and we expect to be pushed to our limits.
“It has been a short turnaround after playing on Sunday, but we are excited to see what this team can do out there as we look to end this campaign on a high,” he said.
DHL Western Province: 15 Luke Burger, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Dan du Plessis (captain), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Louw Nel, 7 Dave Ewers, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Wandisile Simelane, 23 Damian Markus.
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Earl Of Arms
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