Griquas coach Hawies Fourie has selected a battle-hardened team for their Currie Cup opener against the Natal Sharks in Kimberley on Saturday.

Having spent the past few weeks playing in a highly competitive qualifying campaign, Griquas will come into the match against the Sharks well-prepared for the season ahead.

While key players like fullback Gouws Prinsloo, loose forward Jonathan Adendorf, hooker Martin Bezuidenhout and lock Stephan Greeff will be sidelined for the next fortnight, Fourie has been able to draw on the squad that snuck past the Leopards and back into the Currie Cup Premier Division.

Their halfback combination of Tian Meyer and Francois Brummer both have Super Rugby experience, while former Springbok Hilton Lobberts will start on the side of the scrum.

Griquas – 15 Nico Scheepers, 14 Danie Dames, 13 Jonathan Francke, 12 Wayne Stevens (c), 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Carel Greeff, 7 Hilton Lobberts, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 Willem Serfontein, 3 Maks van Dyk, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Steph Roberts.
Subs: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Ewald Van Der Westhuizen, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 RJ Liebenberg, 20 Abrie Griesel, 21 Marais Schmidt, 22 Edries Arendse.

Photo: Louis Botha/Gallo Images