De Jager to start for Bulls
De Jager, who moved from the Cheetahs, will form a lock combination with Rudolph Snyman in a team that will also see the return to Bulls colours for Jacques Potgieter, who won the Super Rugby title with the Waratahs a couple of years back.
Handré Pollard is also taking the field for the first time in more than a year and will lead the side, Jesse Kriel was named at fullback and Trevor Nyakane will start at tighthead in the match against the Chiefs.
"We don't have much time left in the pre-season, so it will be important for certain combinations to work well in this match," said Bulls coach Nollis Marais.
"The Chiefs are a formidable team and this will be an important match to see where we are at this early in the season."
Bulls: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Handre Pollard (captain), 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Nic de Jager, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Rudolph Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements – from: Edgar Maruthlule, Lizo Gqoboka, Jason Jenkins, Ruan Steenkamp, Piet van Zyl, Tian Schoeman, Warrick Gelant, John-Roy Jenkinson, Jacobie Adriaanse, Renaldo Bothma, Francois Brummer, JT Jackson.
Date: Thursday, February 9
Venue: Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 18.30 (8.30 GMT; 10.30 GMT)
Referee: TBC
