Jordan Hendrikse returns to the Emirates Lions side as they look to cement their qualification in the EPCR Challenge Cup when they face the Welsh side, Dragons, on Sunday afternoon.
After an indifferent performance by Gianni Lombard against Stade Francais last weekend, Hendrikse has recovered from his injury and will take the 10 jersey.
In other changes Andre Warner comes in at nine for the Lions while Michael van Vuuren is elevated to the starting line-up for the match.
The Lions will be looking for a better performance than they had in Paris if they are to qualify and will also want to better on their performance at home where they let the Dragons snatch a draw in the final moments of their game at Emirates Airline Park.
Otherwise it is the same side that went down in Paris and the Lions have played the Dragons twice this season already and will be hoping for a better result against more familiar opposition.
Emirates Lions: Andries Coetzee; Quan Horn, Henco van Wyk, Marius Louw, Edwill van der Merwe; Jordan Hendrikse, Andre Warner; Emmanuel Tshituka, Emile van Heerden, Jaco Kriel, Darrien Landsberg, Willem Alberts, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Michael van Vuuren, JP Smith.
Replacements: PJ Botha, Morgan Naude, Ruan Smith, Pieter Jansen van Vuren, Ruhan Straeuli, JC Pretorius, Morne van den Berg, Rynhardt Jonker.
Meanwhile Daniel Maartens has been returned to the openside flank position as the Toyota Cheetahs search for qualification in the EPCR Challenge Cup this weekend against French side Section Paloise.
The game, which kicks off at 5.15pm on Sunday has left the Cheetahs and Pau in a winner-takes-all situation for the final spot in the qualification round, with the French side with a slightly better points difference.
The Cheetahs won the opening game away from home but have since then lost their stars Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn to injury and suffered back to back defeats to the Welsh side, Scarlets in their other games.
Also coming into the side is Roelof Smit, who has only played one game since joining the Cheetahs and will be looking forward to making an impression off the bench.
“Sunday is an important game for us. We said from the start that we wanted to reach the top 6. We want to do well and use the opportunity to show that the Toyota Cheetahs belong in international rugby.” Said Coach Hawies Fourie.
“The forecast for Sunday is between zero and minus four degrees Celsius, so it will be cold, but no rain is expected, making it possible to handle the ball well, keep it through phases, and play an attacking brand of rugby.
“A win on Sunday will show the fighting spirit of the people of the Free State,” said Toyota Cheetah Defence Coach Charl Strydom.
Andell Loubser and Tapiwa Mafura switch places with Mafura in the starting line-up.
Toyota Cheetahs: Tapiwa Mafura; Daniel Kasende, David Brits, Reinhardt Fortuin, Munier Hartzenberg; Siya Masuku, Rewan Kruger; Jeandre Rudolph, Friedle Olivier, Daniel Maartens, Victor Sekekete (captain), Rynier Bernardo, Aranos Coetzee, Louis van der Westhuizen, Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: Marko Janse van Rensburg, Alulutho Tshakweni, Hencus van Wyk, Mzwanele Zito, Roelof Smit, Branden de Kock, Robert Ebersohn, Andell Loubser.
Elsewhere the Vodacom Bulls have made several wholesale changes as they mix up their starting line-up for their final preliminary Heineken Champions’ Cup clash against Lyon on Friday night.
Needing just a point to qualify, the Bulls have decided to rest captain Ruan Nortje, and rotated a fair share of their squad ahead of the game.
The majority of the backline is still there – Springboks Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie both have their number 15 and 14 jerseys again for another week or so before getting some much-needed rest – and Wandisile Simelane and David Kriel keep their places following some good performances as well.
Harold Vorster has been rested, with Cornal Hendricks coming into the side to partner Simelane in a mouth-watering combo that, if it fires, could be very dangerous indeed.
The halfback pairing of Chris Smith and Zak Burger have been put on the bench, with Johan Goosen starting at 10 alongside Embrose Papier.
Nizaam Carr comes in at eight and will captain the side alongside Cyle Brink, who returns from injury and Marco van Staden.
With Nortje on the bench, Ruan Vermaak and Janko Swanepoel are the two locks while a new front row in Simphiwie Matanzima, Bismarck du Plessis and Francois Klopper makes its appearance.
But that does give the Bulls a very strong bench for the second half, with Johan Grobbelaar, Mornay Smith and Gerhard Steenekamp, the first-choice front row, destined for a second-half assault.
Nortje and Elrigh Louw round out the forward reserves, while at the back Burger and Smith are there along with Lionel Mapoe.
The Bulls are five points adrift of Pool leaders Leinster and one point behind Edinburgh and Exeter, who have both qualified and are fourth and fifth respectively.
Vodacom Bulls:Kurt-Lee Arendse; Canan Moodie, Wandisile Simelane, Cornal Hendricks, David Kriel; Johan Goosen, Embrose Papier; Nizaam Carr (captain), Cyle Brink, Marco van Staden, Janko Swanepoel, Ruan Vermaak, Francois Klopper, Bismarck du Plessis, Simphiwe Matanzima.
Reserves:Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, Mornay Smith, Ruan Nortje, Elrigh Louw, Zak Burger, Chris Smith, Lionel Mapoe.