Tian Schoeman will return from injury when the Cheetahs face Western Province in a crucial tie in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Schoeman, who has missed most of the Currie Cup campaign through injury, will start at flyhalf in one of seven changes to the starting lineup.

Darren Adonis is also back from injury and replaces Dries Swanepoel, causing William Small-Smith to shift from wing to inside centre.

There are four further changes in the pack as Abongile Nonkontwana is promoted from the bench into the starting loose trio, while lock Sintu Manjesi switches with JP du Preez.

Tighthead prop Boan Venter will make his Cheetahs debut. Joseph Dweba starts after sitting out last weekend’s win over the Pumas.

FS Cheetahs –15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Darren Adonis, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 William Small-Smith, 11 Tian Meyer (c), 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Abongile Nonkontwana, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Sitnu Manjesi, 3 Boan Venter, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Subs: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Gerhard Olivier, 21 Jasper Wiese, 22 Dian Badenhorst/Dries Swanepoel, 23 Louis Fouche.

Photo: Frikkie Kapp/BackpagePix