Schalk Burger will lead a young team into battle against the Bulls at Loftus on Saturday.
Following another week of injury woes, coach Allister Coetzee has been forced to make six changes to his run-on team, with three players among the 23 yet to feature in a Super Rugby match.
One can't help but feel for the Stormers, who will be without Steven Kitshoff (knee), Frans Malherbe (concussion), Oli Kebble (concussion), Jurie van Vuuren (shoulder), Michael Rhodes (assortment of knocks), Louis Schreuder (broken thumb), Jean de Villiers (AC joint) and Kobus van Wyk (wrist).
Debutant Jean Kleyn will start in the second row, while Cheslin Kolbe, Alister Vermaark and Dylon Frylinck are also expected to get their first taste of Super Rugby. Pat Cilliers returns to the starting line-up in place of the injured Kitshoff, while Brok Harris will complete a new-look front row.
Peter Grant gets another chance, this time at inside centre as the Stormers go into this one with yet another midfield combination.
Schalk Burger will lead the team, and at 31, he is the oldest player in the Stormers' 23-man squad, which boasts an average age of just 24.
Stormers – 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Damian de Allende, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Peter Grant, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger (c), 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Brok Harris.
Subs: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Martin Dreyer, 19 Siya Kolisi, 20 Deon Fourie, 21 Dylon Frylinck, 22 Michael van der Spuy, 23 Devon Williams.
Photo: Luke Walker/Getty Images
