Kabamba Floors, who a couple of months ago was looking for an alternative province, will start for the defending champion Cheetahs when they face the resurgent Falcons in a Currie Cup match in Bloemfontein on Friday.

Floors, who fell foul of Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské during the Super 14 season when he failed to turn up for practice sessions, joined up with the national Sevens team in search of game time when he found himself constantly on the Cheetahs bench.

Floors even knocked on the Western Province Rugby Union door for a 'new' contract in the hope that he will get more opportunities.

However, he eventually settled his differences with the Cheetahs mentor, Drotské, and after a few Currie Cup games on the bench will get a chance on Friday to show why he feels he deserves more regular game time.

Floors will start in place of injured Cheetahs captain Hendro Scholtz — who left the field with neck and shoulder injuries during last week's impressive 31-9 win over the table-topping Sharks.

Lock Barend Pieterse takes over the captaincy from Scholtz.

The inclusion of Floors is one of three changes to the Cheetahs' starting XV.

Scrumhalf Tewis de Bruyn replaces Neil Powell at number nine, while Springbok hooker Adriaan Strauss is back on Currie Cup duty after his Bok debut against Australia in Perth last Saturday.

Jaco du Toit, who started at hooker against the Sharks last week, is heading for France and have been axed from the matchday 22 — with Richardt Strauss, cousin of the Cheetahs' newest Springbok Adriaan Strauss — providing cover on the bench.

The return to fitness of Duanne Vermeulen earns him a place among the replacements as loose forward cover.

Another noteworthy selection on the bench is Wilton Pietersen as utility back cover in place of Hendrik Meyer, as coach Naka Drotské continues to invest in the future (read young talent).

Cheetahs: 15 Bevin Fortuin, 14 Eddie Fredericks, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Chris Rossouw, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Schalk van der Merwe, 7 Kabamba Floors, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Barend Pieterse (captain), 4 David de Villiers, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Phillip Lemmer, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Duanne Vermeulen, 20 Neil Powell, 21 Wilton Pietersen, 22 Fabian Juries.

Date: Friday, July 25
Venue: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Gareth Lloyd-Jones
Touch judges: Theuns Jonker, Peter de Bruin
TMO: Willie Roos

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