Coach Franco Smith has named his strongest available starting lineup for Saturday's Currie Cup match against Boland in Wellington.

All the players in the run-on XV featured in the 2016 Super Rugby competition: 14 for the Cheetahs and Tom Botha for the Kings.

Clayton Blommetjies, Sergeal Petersen and Raymond Rhule form the back three, captain Francois Venter and William Small-Smith resume their midfield partnership, and Fred Zeilinga and Shaun Venter are the halfbacks.

In the pack, No 8 Neill Jordaan will be flanked by Uzair Cassiem and Paul Schoeman, Reniel Hugo and Carl Wegner are the locks, and in the front row hooker Joseph Dweba are joined by props Botha and Ox Nche.

Free State Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter (c), 12 William Small-Smith, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Neill Jordaan, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Justin Basson, 19 Henco Venter, 20 Tian Meyer, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Ryno Benjamin.

Photo: Gerhard Steenkamp/BackpagePix