Willie du Plessis will start at flyhalf for the Cheetahs against the Stormers at Newlands on Friday night.
Coach Naka Drotské has decided not to risk former Stormer Joe Pietersen, who picked up an injury against the Vodacom Bulls last weekend while wearing the No 10 jersey.
Springbok flank Oupa Mohoje will make his first appearance for the Cheetahs in 2015, with Bok fullback Willie le Roux part of an expanded bench.
With Heinrich Brüssow still in Japan, Willie Britz will captain the team.
Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 JP du Plessis, 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Danie Dames, 10 Willie du Plessis, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Willie Britz (c), 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Jean Cook, 5 Carl Wegner, 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Subs: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Francois Uys, 20 Lodewyk de Jager, 21 Tienie Burger, 22 Shaun Venter, 23 Francois Brummer, 24 Francois Venter, 25 Raymond Rhule, 26 Willie le Roux.
Stormers team to play Cheetahs
Photo: Gerhard Steenkamp/BackpagePix
