The inclusion of fullback Clayton Blommetjies is one of five changes to the Cheetahs team for their match against Edinburgh in Bloemfontein on Friday.

Blommetjies replaces injured flyhalf Ernst Stapelberg (arm) in the run-on XV, with Fred Zeilinga moving from the back into the No 10 channel.

Staying in the backline, William Small-Smith is back at outside centre and Shaun Venter returns at scrumhalf.

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There are two changes among the forwards, with Rynier Bernardo starting at blindside flank ahead of Jasper Wiese and Charles Marais at loosehead prop ahead of Ox Nche.

Replacement Daniel Maartens and Craig Barry have been named on the bench and will make their debuts for the Cheetahs if they are used as substitutes.

Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Luther Obi, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Nico Lee
11 Makazola Mapimpi, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Junior Pokomela, 7 Rynier Bernardo, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Johan Coetzee, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Charles Marais.
Subs: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Jasper Wiese, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Tertius Kruger, 23 Craig Barry.