WP recall Elstadt and Willemse
Elstadt returns for this Currie Cup Round Six match after a spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury, whilst Willemse has been recalled from the Eastern Province Kings (where he was on loan), following injuries to hookers Siyabonga Ntubeni, Chad Solomon and Martin Ferreira.
Jurie van Vuuren starts at blindside flank, which means that Kobus van Dyk shifts to No.8, with Jan de Klerk in the starting line-up at lock in place of the injured John Schickerling.
There are no changes to the backline that featured in the win against the Sharks at Newlands last week, although there are two new forwards on the bench in the form of Jacques Vermeulen and Eital Bredenkamp.
Western Province coach John Dobson said that it is crucial for his team to follow up their morale-boosting win against the Sharks with an improved performance in what will be a replay of last year's Currie Cup Final.
"We want to continue on an upward curve, which means that we will have to raise our game up in Johannesburg.
"We have lost a few players to injury, but the team is focused on going up there and doing whatever it takes to come away with a win," he said.
Western Province: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Werner Kok, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Johnny Kotze, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Kobus van Dyk, 7 Jurie van Vuuren, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Mike Willemse, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 JP Smith, 19 Jacques Vermeulen, 20 Eital Bredenkamp, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Scott van Breda.
Date: Friday, September 9
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Jaco van Heerden, Eduan Nel
TMO: Johan Greeff
