Hawies Fourie has made five personnel changes and three positional swaps to the Cheetahs’ lineup for Saturday’s match against the Cardiff Blues.

Anthony Volmink starts on the left wing, with Clayton Blommetjies shifting right wing in place of William Small-Smith, who in return moves into the midfield.

As a result of Small-Smith’s selection at outside centre, Benhard Janse van Rensburg shifts to No 12, at the expense of Louis Fouche, who drops to the bench. In the only other backline change, Ruan Pienaar starts at scrumhalf and will also captain the side.

Up front, loosehead prop Luan de Bruin earns his first start of the season ahead of Boan Venter, while lock Walt Steenkamp and flank Gerhard Olivier replace JP du Preez and Sias Koen respectively.

Cheetahs – 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Clayton Blommetjies, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Ruan Pienaar (c), 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 Walk Steenkamp, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Luan de Bruin.
Subs: 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Erich de Jager, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Sias Koen, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Louis Fouche.

Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images