The Cheetahs will be without Sarel Pretorius for their match against the Brumbies in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

The quick-thinking scrumhalf suffered an ankle injury in training and has been ruled out of action for between three to four weeks.

The news will come as a blow to coach Naka Drotské, as his team prepare to face the in-form Brumbies.

Shaun Venter will take over from the stricken scrumhalf, with the Free State Vodacom Cup scrumhalf Renier Botha being promoted to the bench.

In the other backline change Cornal Hendricks starts in place of Raymond Rhule, who drops to the bench.

Up front Willem Serfontein is handed his first Super Rugby start for the Cheetahs, replacing Waltie Vermeulen in the second row.

The Brumbies have made one change to their starting XV, with Henry Speight back on the right wing.

Cheetahs –15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Johannes Prinsloo, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Willem Serfontein, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Subs: 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Nicolaas van Dyk, 19 Carel Greeff, 20 Waltie Vermeulen, 21 Renier Botha, 22 Elgar Watts, 23 Raymond Rhule.

Brumbies – 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Robbie Coleman, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen (c), 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Fotu Auelua, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Scott Sio.
Subs: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Ruan Smith, 18 JP Smith, 19 Jordan Smiler, 20 Tom McVerry, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Pat McCabe.

Photo: Johan Pretorius/Getty Images