Coach Franco Smith has made two changes to the Cheetahs starting lineup for their third game of the PRO14 season against Johan van Graan’s Munster in Bloemfontein on Friday.

Luan de Bruin returns from injury replacing Erich de Jager in the front row, while utility back Louis Fouche comes in at inside centre for the injured Dries Swanepoel. The fit-again Clayton Blommetjies will take Fouche’s place on the bench.

In what will be his last match in charge before handing over to Hawies Fourie, Smith will be hoping to end off his time as head coach with a win against a side the Cheetahs are yet to defeat after four previous encounters.

The Cheetahs are undefeated this season after comfortable wins against the Glasgow Warriors and Ulster in the first two rounds of the season, and will look to continue their winning momentum in their final home game of the year.

Should they defeat Munster, it will also be the first time the Bloemfontein side have won five games in succession – stretching back to last season – since they joined the competition in 2017.

Kick-off is at 6:15pm.

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

Photo: Frikkie Kapp/Gallo Images