Skipper Adam Coleman will start in the second-row as the Rebels make three changes to their starting XV to face the Stormers in Cape Town.
Coleman shrugged off any injury concerns after being substituted at half-time in the loss to Bulls last weekend.
Lopeti Timani comes onto the flank for Ross Haylett-Petty, while Billy Meakes returns to the centres to replace the injured Dane Haylett-Petty. Jack Maddocks will start at full-back while Tom English is on the wing.
Wallabies' front-rower Jermaine Ainsley makes his first start since the Hurricanes match in March in a direct swap with Sam Talakai, who is in line to make his 50th Super Rugby appearance this Friday.
Across the bench, 20-year-old front-rower Sama Malolo is set to make his Super Rugby debut, while flanker Colby Fainga’a and outside back Semisi Tupou round out the inclusions.
Rebels' head coach Dave Wessels said: “It’s great to have LT (Timani), Jermaine and Billy back in the team – aside from Aranu Rangi it’s the pack that we started our campaign with. We know there’s a fair bit of cohesion in that group and that will be important on Friday night.
“The Stormers are a quality outfit and a particularly dangerous prospect in front of their Cape Town crowd. It’s a wonderful challenge for our players and we’re excited for Friday.”
Rebels: 15 Jack Maddocks, 14 Tom English, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Michael Ruru, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Angus Cottrell, 6 Lopeti Timani, 5 Adam Coleman (c), 4 Matt Philip, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Tetera Faulkner
Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Fereti Sa’aga, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Colby Fainga’a, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Semisi Tupou, 23 Sefa Naivalu
Date: Friday, April 27
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 15:05 local (13:05 GMT)
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Rasta Rasivhenge
TMO: Christie du Preez
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