Former Springbok loose forward Jacques Potgieter will make his first start for the Cheetahs against the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday.

Potgieter will start at No 8, in a revamped back row that includes Oupa Mohoje and Chris Massyn.

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The 34-year-old recently signed a deal with the Cheetahs after successfully completing a trial with the Bloemfontein side.

There are also starts for Rhyno Smith, Howard Mnisi and Craig Barry in the backline, with Frans Steyn and Rosko Specman on the bench and Clayton Blommetjies given a rest.

Cheetahs – 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Malcolm Jaer, 13 Chris Smit, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Craig Barry, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar (c), 8 Jacques Potgieter, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Chris Massyn, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Subs: 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Rosko Specman.

Photo: Guillaume Ruoppolo/Icon Sport via Getty Images