Griquas coach Dawie Theron has made two changes to his starting XV for their eagerly anticipated Round Four Currie Cup fixture against Western Province at Absa Park in Kimberley on Saturday.

Sarel Pretorius has been preferred at starting scrumhalf in the place of Tobie Botes who this time out has been named among the replacements.

As left wing Bjorn Basson is unwell, the experienced Gavin Passens has been moved from right wing to left and Egon Seconds will make his starting line-up debut for Griquas against his former province.

MJ Mentz comes in for Seconds on the replacements bench, while one of Rohan Kitshoff or Bees van Dyk will do duty in the place of the injured reserve hooker Dean Hopp.

In spite of this being one of those typical David versus Goliath encounters and Griquas last having defeated Western Province years ago in the Currie Cup competition, the home team's encouraging overall performance in their 9-9 draw against the Boland Cavaliers at a very damp Boland Stadium last Friday has given the injury plagued Griquas squad fresh heart going into Saturday's encounter.

Whatever the match outcome, Griquas are determined to again lift their game — this time against their oldest provincial rivals.

Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Egon Seconds, 13 Jaco Bekker, 12 Herkie Kruger (captain), 11 Gavin Passens, 10 Conrad Barnard, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Heinrich Stride, 7 Stephan Gerber, 6 Frans Viljoen, 5 Jacques Lombaard, 4 Wayne van Heerden, 3 Ruaan du Preez, 2 James van der Walt, 1 Albertus Buckle.
Replacements: 16 Rohan Kitshoff/Bees van Dyk, 17 Steph Roberts, 18 Cilliers Coetzer, 19 Gareth Krause, 20 Tobie Botes, 21 Lafras Uys, 22 MJ Mentz.

Date: Saturday, 12 July
Venue: Absa Park, Kimberley
Kick-off: 3pm (1pm GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper, Peter de Bruin
Television match official: Willie Roos

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