Burger Odendaal has returned to the Bulls’ starting line-up for Friday’s match against the Chiefs in Hamilton.

Odendaal missed his side’s previous two Super Rugby clashes against the Lions and Reds due to injury.

He takes over the captaincy from Handré Pollard and the inside centre berth from Johnny Kotze.

In other changes to the team that lost to the Reds in Brisbane, Divan Rossouw replaces Duncan Matthews on the left wing.

Up front, Trevor Nyakane comes in for Frans van Wyk at tighthead prop and Thembelani Bholi is back at blindside flank, with Hanro Liebenberg moving to No 8, where he takes over from the injured Nic de Jager.

De Jager had to return home due to a broken rib and his replacement, Blitzbok Tim Agaba, is bracketed as a replacement along with Jason Jenkins, who played off the bench in Brisbane.

A final call on Jenkins, who has a niggle, will be made closer to the game and if he is ruled out, Agaba is due to make his Super Rugby debut for the Bulls.

Conraad van Vuuren is back on the bench in place of the promoted Nyakane, while Manie Libbok is another potential debutant for the Bulls. He comes in for Marnitz Boshoff, while Kotze will cover the midfield and back three.

Bulls – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal (c), 11 Divan Rossouw, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 André Warner, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Subs: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Jason Jenkins/Tim Agaba, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Johnny Kotze.

Photo: Johan Rynners/Gallo Images