Keegan Daniel will lead an experienced Sharks outfit in Saturday’s Currie Cup semi-final against the Cheetahs, with the return of 50-test veteran Frans Steyn in midfield the biggest talking point.

While the Sharks have kept the forward pack mostly unchanged, bar the injury-enforced selection of Wiehahn Herbst at tighthead (and the reversal of last week’s emergency switching of Daniel and Jacques Botes), it’s amongst the backs that the biggest changes have come. Pat Lambie and Louis Ludik start either side of Steyn in a completely new attacking axis this week – one that oozes experience and proven class, if it lacks the youthful exuberance of the combination it replaces.

Tim Whitehead is the most unfortunate of last week’s starters; his place in the 22 is forfeit due to Ludik and Steyn’s promotions. Heimar Williams moves down to the bench, alongside Fred Zeilinga while it appears that any further thought of scrumhalf rotation has been shelved, with Charl McLeod continuing in a starting role. SP Marais and Ludik are thus the only players in the backline who aren’t capped Springboks.

The only other new face in the squad is that of Danie Mienie, who comes onto the bench as prop cover, given Jannie du Plessis’s withdrawal.

Sharks:

15 SP Marais, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Louis Ludik, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Keegan Daniel (capt), 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Peet Marais, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Subs: 16 Kyle Copoer, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Stephan Lewies, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Cobus Reinach, 21 Fred Zeilinga, 22 Heimar Williams