Ryan Kankowski will earn a 100th Super rugby cap for the Sharks, when he starts at number 8 against the Stormers at Newlands this week.

Kankowski is one of 12 internationals named by Gary Gold in what looks to be the strongest available starting line-up for the Sharks. Marcell Coetzee and Willem Alberts complete an all-Bok loose trio, while Frans Steyn an JP Pietersen return to add test experience to the midfield too.

All told, five changes have been made to the run-on side. Thomas du Toit and English international Matt Stevens take over from Dale Chadwick and Jannie du Plessis respecitvely in the front row, with the latter rested entirely this week. Chadwick is on the bench, with Beast Mtawarira not quite making it back fro his leg injury in time. Alberts replaces Renaldo Bothma at blind side flank, with the Namibian moving to the bench to make way for his South African team mate.

Steyn and Pietersen, at 12 and 13 respectively, replace Andre Esterhuizen and Waylon Murray in a backline that is otherwise unchanged. Esterhuizen drops to the bench in place of Fred Zeilinga, with Murray missing out altogether.

Sharks

15. SP Marais

14. Odwa Ndungane

13. JP Pietersen

12. Francois Steyn

11. Lwazi Mvovo

10. Patrick Lambie

9. Cobus Reinach

8. Ryan Kankowski

7. Willem Alberts

6. Marcell Coetzee

5. Pieter-Steph du Toit

4. Lubabalo Mtyanda

3. Matt Stevens

2. Bismarck du Plessis (Captain)

1. Thomas du Toit

Replacements

16. Kyle Cooper

17. Dale Chadwick

18. Lourens Adriaanse

19. Marco Wentzel

20. Renaldo Bothma

21. Conrad Hoffmann

22. Andre Esterhuizen

23. Jack Wilson