Joshua Stander is in line to make his Blue Bulls debut against Western Province at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The 20-year-old pivot has been bracketed with Jacques-Louis Potgieter in the flyhalf position in one of four changes to the side that defeated the EP Kings last time out. Potgieter, who missed last week's match with a rib injury, will face a late fitness test.
Elsewhere, Piet van Zyl returns to the starting lineup at the expense of Rudy Paige, while Werner Kruger replaces Marcel van der Merwe in the front row.
Callie Visagie has recovered from injury and will start at hooker, with Bongi Mbonambi dropping to the bench despite a strong performance against the Kings.
Blue Bulls – 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Sampie Mastriet, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter/Joshua Stander, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Jono Ross, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Deon Stegmann (c), 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling.
Subs: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 19 Jacques Engelbrecht, 20 Rudy Paige, 21 Tian Schoeman, 22 Ryan Nell.
Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix