The Blue Bulls' Springbok flank Wikus van Heerden has made a full recovery from injury and will captain the Bulls when they face the Sharks in a Currie Cup crunch match at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, on Saturday.

Joining Van Heerden in the matchday 22 are flyhalf Derick Hougaard and fullback Zane Kirchner, who will make their first Currie Cup appearances of the season from the bench - after recovering from injury.

Van Heerden recovered from his rib injury and takes over the captaincy from Derick Kuün, while Hougaard and Kirchner form part of a very impressive replacement bench.

Coach Frans Ludeke did not make any changes to the backline that played in the 17-26 loss to Western Province at Newlands last week.

However, with Van Heerden back in the mix, he opted for Danie Rossouw alongside Wilhelm Steenkamp at lock.

That means Francois van Schouwenburg will be used as an impact player in the second half and the robust Namibian flank Jacques Burger, who replaces Hilton Lobberts on the bench, will make his debut for the Blue Bulls if he gets game time on Saturday.

Lobberts' axing is the result of his ill-disciplined performances in the opening rounds of the competition.

Burger played Craven Week for Namibia in 2000 and 2001, and after making his test debut against Zambia in 2003 he played in more than 40 matches for the Griquas from 2005 to 2007.

Blue Bulls: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 John Mametsa, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 JP Joubert, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 Wikus van Heerden (captain), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Jaco Engels. Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Rayno Gerber, 18 Francois van Schouwenburg, 19 Jacques Burger, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Derick Hougaard, 22 Zane Kirchner. Date: Saturday, July 5
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: JC Fortuin
Touch judges: Christie du Preez, Cobus Wessels
TMO: Michael Cupido

365