Stormers rush Moerat into the frontline
Moerat, who turned 20 this week, is set to make his Stormers debut, off the replacements bench, in Dunedin on Friday.
There are five changes to the Stormers starting line-up and a further four on the replacements bench for the encounter at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The only change to the backline sees Dillyn Leyds move back to wing to make way for the returning Damian Willemse, with Seabelo Senatla ruled out due to a groin strain and Johannes Engelbrecht providing cover among the replacements.
Up front Kobus van Dyk will start at blindside flank in the absence of Cobus Wiese, who is nursing a shoulder injury.
There is an all-new lock pairing in Jan de Klerk and Chris van Zyl, with John Schickerling having returned home injured – with both Pieter-Steph du Toit and the Moerat set to provide impact off the replacements bench.
Du Toit is recovering from concussion and has been bracketed with George Whitehead.
The only change to the front row sees Steven Kitshoff back in the starting XV, with Jacobus Janse van Rensburg on the replacements bench.
Stormers coach Robbie Fleck said that his team will be going all-out to end their tour on a high.
"We have had some brave performances on this tour and the players are looking forward to the challenge in Dunedin against the Highlanders," he said.
Stormers: 15 Sarel Marais, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Ramone Samuels, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Dean Muir, 17 Jacobus Janse van Rensburg, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit/George Whitehead, 21 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 22 Justin Phillips, 23 Johannes Engelbrecht.
Date: Friday, March 9
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19.35 (08.35 SA time; 06.35 GMT)
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
