Trevor Nyakane, Lood de Jager and Oupa Mohoje will start for the Free State Cheetahs against the Golden Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

While the trio were part of the Boks' Rugby Championship squad, they are not contracted by Saru and therefore available to play in the Currie Cup.

For the Cheetahs to make the semi-finals, they must beat the Lions and hope the Blue Bulls lose at home to Griquas.

Free State Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 AJ Coertzen, 13 JP du Plessis, 12 Joubert Engelbrecht, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Willie du Plessis, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Lappies Labuschagne, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Tienie Burger, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Torsten van Jaarseveld (c), 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Subs: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 George Marich, 18 Henco Venter, 19 Neil Claassen, 20 Shaun Venter, 21 Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 22 Maphutha Dolo.

Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images