Jacques du Plessis will return to start at lock in the Vodacom Blue Bulls’ semi-final against Western Province at Loftus.

Du Plessis was a late withdrawal from the team that edged the Pumas 25-24 last weekend, but he is ready to take up his regular spot at No 4 for Friday's knockout match, with RG Snyman reverting to the bench.

That alteration is the only change to the starting lineup, while Jason Jenkins takes over from Ruan Steenkamp as the loose-forward replacement on the bench.

'This is what we trained for, to put ourselves in a position where we can win the Currie Cup,’ coach Nollis Marais said.

'A semi-final is a difficult match. You play to win and survive, but it does not mean a trophy yet. You have to go and do it all over again a week later. But, if you lose, your season is over. We are determined for that not to happen to us.’

Blue Bulls – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Lappies Labuschagne (c), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Pierre Schoeman.

Subs: 16 Corniel Els, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 RG Snyman, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 William Small-Smith.

Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix