Ruan Pienaar will make his first start for the Cheetahs in their Currie Cup match against the Pumas in Nelspruit on Saturday.

Pienaar, who joined the team from Montpellier, has been restricted to the bench thus far but is set for a starting opportunity at scrumhalf.

With Pienaar coming into the starting lineup, captain Tian Meyer shifts to the left wing while William Small-Smith returns on the right wing.

In the forwards, Gerhard Olivier starts at openside flank, with Junior Pokomela on the blindside and Abongile Nonkontwana providing cover on the bench.

Walt Steenkamp and Sintu Manjezi switch places in the second row, with Steenkamp in the starting lineup.

Jacques du Toit gets an opportunity to start at hooker, with Joseph Dweba named on the bench.

Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 William Small-Smith, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Dries Swanepoel, 11 Tian Meyer, 10 Louis Fouche, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 JP du Preez, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.

Subs: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Erich de Jager, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Abongile Nonkontwana, 21 Jasper Wiese, 22 Dian Badenhorst, 23 Tapiwa Mafura.

Photo: OFM