Sykes to lead Kings into Shark Tank
Sykes, who will be moving to Oyonnax at the end of the season, return from injury to lead the side into the Sharks Tank in this Round 13 Super Rugby encounter.
Prop Schalk Ferreira also returns for the trip[ to Durban, having missed two games due to injury.
"Unfortunately Edgar Marutlulle is sick with flu and the doctor has recommended that he sits this game out," Davids said.
"Martin Ferreira takes his place and Martin Bezuidenhout comes up on the bench," said Davids.
Davids also confirmed that John-Charles Astle would play off the bench, with Schalk Oelofse starting alongside Sykes.
"JC [Astle] has played nearly 80 minutes every game, so this is a chance just to manage him a bit better," the coach said.
Davids said the decision to bring in Stefan Willemse, and Jacques Engelbrecht at flank was to match the physicality of the Sharks pack.
At the back, Davids has brought Phillipus du Plessis on at outside centre to fill in for Stefan Watermeyer, who is out with a tendon injury to his foot.
Cornell Hess comes up onto the bench to fill the spot opened up by Oelofse starting.
Davids said he was happy to have both Sykes and Schalk Ferreira, two of the most experienced players, back ahead of the game against the Sharks, but was confident that the team would provide bring their all to the game.
"I think all the players have the ability to make an impact," the coach said.
"For example, I think that, while we have lost both CJ [Cyril-John Velleman] and Chris Cloete, Stefan Willemse and Aidon Davis have both shown that they can make an impact," he added.
Davids said that they team would be focusing on getting the basics and making the right decisions throughout the game.
Southern Kings: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Lukhanyo Am, 13 JP du Plessis, 12 Shane Gates, 11 Luzuko Vulindlu, 10 Louis Fouche, 9 Ntando Kebe, 8 Aidon Davis, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Stefan Willemse, 5 Schalk Oelofse, 4 Steven Sykes (captain), 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Martin Ferreira , 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Justin Ackerman, 18 Tom Botha, 19 John-Charles Astle, 20 Jacques Engelbrecht, 21 Kevin Luiters, 22 Elgar Watts, 23 Leighton Eksteen.
Date: Saturday, May 21
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17.10 (15.10 GMT)
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant referees: Rodney Bonaparte, Archie Sehlako
TMO: Marius Jonker
