Jake shuffles the pack
Sharks Director of Rugby Jake White has changed up his team to keep the players fresh ahead of the Super Rugby crunch match with the Crusaders.
Following last week's disappointing loss to the Brumbies, their second defeat in the last three matches, White made three changes to the pack and another two to the backline.
The Sharks boss hopes this will help his team get back into their stride when they take on the high-flying Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.
Willem Alberts moves from lock to his preferred position at No.8, while Lubabalo Mtembu will start at flank – with Ryan Kankowski and Keegan Daniel dropped to the replacement bench.
Etienne Oosthuizen comes into the spot vacated in the second row by Alberts' move to the loose forwards.
The vastly experienced front row remains unchanged – with Tendai Mtawarira and Jannie du Plessis both playing their 100th Super Rugby match for the Sharks.
In the backline SP Marais will start at fullback, with Lwazi Mvovo moving to the left wing and JP Pietersen shifting across to the right wing.
Odwa Ndungane drops out of the matchday squad.
The Sharks have never beaten the Crusaders on New Zealand soil and White admitted his team has an enormous mountain to climb.
However, always being the glass-half-full person that he is, White suggested his team could cause an upset.
"I think that records are there to be broken," White said.
"Clermont in France were beaten at home for the first time in 77 games this past weekend.
"The Crusaders have lost two games at home this season, so it's not impossible, but we need to make sure we're up for it."
The Crusaders come off a big win over the Reds and are on a five-match winning streak – including the scalps of the Brumbies and Chiefs.
White agrees that they're on a roll at the moment playing with a lot of confidence.
"The Crusaders are a good side, let's not forget they're an All Black-laden side and they're a team that always hit their straps around this time of year.
"So it is a difficult time to play them at a time in the season when they are on a high.
"In saying that, it's not mission impossible, we have to believe we have a chance and we've got to make sure we give it a crack."
Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 S'bura Sithole, 12 Paul Jordaan, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Francois Steyn, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Lubabalo Mtembu, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Keegan Daniel, 21 Charl McLeod, 22 Tim Swiel, 23 Heimar Williams.
Date: Saturday, May 17
Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT; 09.35 SA time)
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser, Mike Lash (New Zealand)
TMO: Chris Watt (New Zealand)
