Mvovo swimming with the Sharks
Springbok Lwazi Mvovo's availability headlines the Sharks team for their Currie Cup crunch match with the Golden Lions in Durban on Friday.
Mvovo, unwanted by the Boks, was again released for domestic duty and will feature on the left wing in a much-changed team for this Round Nine encounter.
With Mvovo available the backline remains unchanged.
However, the Sharks also welcome five players back from injury.
Jacques Botes, the most capped Currie Cup player, replaces Khaya Majola on the flank and brings experience and calmness.
Stephan Lewies, who called the line-outs in Super Rugby and was rewarded for his great form with a Springbok cap in June, returns to the starting line-up, as does loosehead prop Thomas du Toit.
Lewies replaces JC Astle in the second row, while Du Toit comes in for Dale Chadwick in the front row.
Hooker Kyle Cooper remains an injury concern and has been bracketed in with Monde Hadebe. He will be subject to a late fitness test.
Matt Stevens and Fred Zeilinga have both also been passed fit to play and have been named on the bench.
Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Lubabalo Mtembu (captain), 7 Etienne Oosthuizen, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Kyle Cooper/Monde Hadebe, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe/Franco Marais, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Matt Stevens, 19 JC Astle, 20 Khaya Majola, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Fred Zeilinga.
Date: Friday, October 3
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Lesego Legoete
Assistant referees: Oregopotse Rametsi, Stefan Breytenbach
TMO: Jason Jaftha
