Bok impact off the Sharks' bench
Springbok Marcell Coetzee will play for the Sharks this week, but he will only come off the bench against the Bulls in Pretoria on Friday.
Sharks backline coach Sean Everitt confirmed to this website that Coetzee will be released from Bok duty and will be available for the Round Nine Currie Cup encounter at Loftus Versfeld.
However, he won't join the Sharks until Thursday's captain's run and will have to make his impact off the bench.
Coetzee will take the place of Brynard Stander, who suffered a knee strain and will not be considered this week.
The team that travels to Pretoria will show a number of changes from that which edged a willing Lions team 31-25 in Johannesburg last week.
Jacques Botes comes at No.6 – in place of Justin Downey – for his record-equalling Currie Cup game. The current South African Currie Cup record is held by Helgard Muller, who has 142 caps.
Botes has played 115 games for the Sharks and 26 for the Pumas.
Jean Deysel returns at No.7 in place of Lubabalo Mtembu.
Then there is more rotation at scrumhalf – Cobus Reinach in for Charl McLeod.
The rest of the team – the front row, locks, flyhalf, centres, wings and fullback – is unchanged.
Keegan Daniel will be playing in his 100th Currie Cup game, which is a fantastic achievement in itself.
Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Keegan Daniel (captain), 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Peet Marais, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Edwin Hewitt, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Andrew James, 22 Louis Ludik.
Date: Friday, October 4
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman, Attie Buitendag
TMO: Deon van Blommestein
By Jan de Koning
