Captain Siya Kolisi and vice-captain Eben Etzebeth have been included in the Stormers’ starting XV for Saturday’s clash with the Sunwolves at Newlands.
Both Kolisi and Etzebeth were rested last week for the trip to Bloemfontein to face the Cheetahs, but will be back in action on home turf.
Also back in the starting line-up this week is centre Damian de Allende, who forms a new midfield combination with EW Viljoen following injuries to Shaun Treeby and Juan de Jongh.
Dillyn Leyds will start at full-back in place of the injured SP Marais, with Seabelo Senatla starting on the wing and the experienced Bjorn Basson on the replacements bench.
With both Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Kobus van Dyk having suffered knee injuries during the week, World Rugby U20 Championship Player of the tournament Juarno Augustus will make his Stormers debut on the flank to join captain Kolisi and Nizaam Carr in the loose trio.
Etzebeth links up with Pieter-Steph du Toit in the second row, with both Chris van Zyl and JD Schickerling included amongst the replacements.
In the front row, Bongi Mbonambi starts at hooker alongside JC Janse van Rensburg and Frans Malherbe, with Ramone Samuels joining Steven Kitshoff and Wilco Louw on the replacements bench.
Stormers: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Juarno Augustus, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg
Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 JD Schickerling, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 Dan Kriel, 23 Bjorn Basson
Date: Saturday, July 8
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19:30 local (17:30 GMT)
Referee: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Shuhei Kubo (Japan), tba
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
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