Cheetahs coach Franco Smith has made one injury-enforced change to his team after fullback Malcolm Jaer was ruled out of their match against the Cardiff Blues on Friday.

Jaer, who has played in all four of the Cheetahs’ games to date, sustained a back injury in training on Monday and had to withdraw from the touring squad that travelled to Cardiff on Tuesday.

Ryno Eksteen will plug the gap at fullback, earning his first start in the Pro14.

Smith has decided to go with a six-two split in favour of the forwards on the bench, with flank Daniel Maartens added to it.

Cheetahs – 15 Ryno Eksteen, 14 William Small-Smith, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Nico Lee, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer (c), 8 Niell Jordaan , 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 JP du Preez, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Günther van Rensburg, 19 Justin Basson, 20 Stephan Malan, 21 Daniel Maartens, 22 Shaun Venter, 23 Louis Fouché.

Photo: www.pro14rugby.org