The Rebels have regained valuable experience with four changes to the team for their clash with the Kings at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
They welcome back Colby Fainga’a, who remained in Melbourne last week for the birth of his daughter, and Marika Koroibete to the starting line-up after the winger was a late withdrawal from the Sharks game through injury.
Fainga’a inclusion is the only chance to the forwards with Rebels team coach Tony McGahan opting for the same combination of Fereti Sa’aga, Siliva Siliva and Tyrel Lomax in the front row for the second consecutive week.
After he made his first start of the season on the wing against the Sharks last week, Ben Volavola will partner Nic Stirzaker in the halves for the first time after the 26-year-old was named at fly-half with the return of Koroibete to the wing.
The reserves have also received a boost with Wallaby Toby Smith set to make his first appearance of the 2017 Super Rugby season after a hamstring injury sidelined the prop since the team’s final pre-season game against the Reds.
Along with Smith, Welsh international Dominic Day will come off the bench in his return from a back injury which kept the lock out of last week’s game against the Sharks.
Smith and Day, along with James Hanson and Laurie Weeks, will provide McGahan with plenty of international experience off the bench.
Rebels: 15 Reece Hodge, 14 Sefa Naivalu, 13 Tom English, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Nic Stirzaker (c), 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Colby Fainga’a, 6 Jake Schatz, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Steve Cummins, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Siliva Siliva, 1 Fereti Sa’aga
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Toby Smith, 18 Laurie Weeks, 19 Dominic Day, 20 Will Miller, 21 Hugh Sinclair, 22 Mick Snowden, 23 Jackson Garden-Bachop
Date: Saturday, April 29
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 19:30 (17:30 GMT)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Egon Seconds (South Africa), Rodney Boneparte (South Africa)
TMO: Christie du Preez (South Africa)
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