Darren Adonis will start on the left wing in one of seven changes to the Cheetahs team to face Connacht in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Adonis, who was educated at Oakdale High, replaces top try-scorer Rabs Maxwane, who is out with a quad injury, while Benhard Janse van Rensburg drops to the bench to give William Small-Smith a start at outside centre.

In a rotational swap, Louis Fouché forms the halfback partnership with captain Sean Venter.

There are four changes to the pack as Abongile Nonkontwana comes into the loose trio in place of two-try hero Daniel Maartens, causing Gerhard Olivier to shift from flank to No 8.

There is a new lock partnership in Sinthu Manjezi and JP du Preez, while Erich de Jager comes in at tighthead prop for Aranos Coetzee.

Cheetahs – 15 Malcolm Jaer, 14 Rhyno Smith, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Nico Lee, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Louis Fouche, 9 Shaun Venter (c), 8 Gerhard Olivier, 7 Abongile Nonkontwana, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 JP du Preez, 4 Sinthu Manjezi, 3 Erich de Jager, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ox Nche.

Subs: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Justin Basson, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Rudi Paige, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Benhard Janse van Rensburg .

Photo: Louis Botha/Gallo Images