Grant Williams and Curwin Bosch will form the Sharks halfback combination when the Durban-based side face the Cheetahs on Saturday afternoon after a protracted delay in Currie Cup action.

Head coach Sean Everitt has something of a balancing act to negotiate with player management as he looks to take into account player welfare together with workload, and then balance that with the need to maintain as much consistency as possible in team selection.

With consecutive clashes called off – against the Pumas and Blue Bulls – the Sharks have had little Currie Cup action to speak of, although they won’t be underdone given that they were up against international opposition when they took on the British & Irish Lions twice in the space of just three days.

Then there are injuries, a suspension and return to action to further add to the planning. As such, the coach has made five changes to the team that played the British & Irish Lions last Wednesday for this week’s match.

Khutha Mchunu returns to the side in place of Wiehahn Herbst at tighthead prop, with James Venter coming back into the back row in place of Mpilo Gumede who has been named among the replacements.

There is a new halfback pairing with Grant Williams taking over from Jaden Hendrikse, who was not considered for selection due to suspension. The young and exciting Williams will partner flyhalf Curwin Bosch, with Lionel Cronje named on the bench.

In the final change, the hugely physical Marius Louw returns to come in for Murray Koster at centre.

Sharks – 15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Werner Kok, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi (c), 7 Dylan Richardson, 6 James Venter, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Subs: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Thembelani Bholi, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Jeremy Ward.

Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images