The inclusion of flyhalf Damian Willemse is one of five changes to the Stormers’ lineup for Friday’s match against the Highlanders in Dunedin.

In the only change to the backline, Willemse returns at No 10 after an injury kept him sidelined last week, forcing Dillyn Leyds to move back to right wing. Seabelo Senatla has been ruled out with a groin injury.

Up front, Kobus van Dyk will start at blindside flank in the absence of Cobus Wiese, who is nursing a shoulder injury.

There is an all-new lock pairing in Jan de Klerk and Chris van Zyl, with JD Schickerling having returned home injured, while Pieter-Steph du Toit has been bracketed on the bench with George Whitehead after recovering from a heavy knock to the head last weekend.

In the front row, Steven Kitshoff is back in the run-on XV, with JC Janse van Rensburg rotating to the bench.

Uncapped lock Salmaan Moerat, who was called up to the squad earlier in the week, has been named among the reserves and will make his debut if he comes off the bench.

Stormers – 15 SP Marais, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Ramone Samuels, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Stuff: 16 Dean Muir, 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit/George Whitehead, 21 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 22 Justin Phillips, 23 JJ Engelbrecht.

Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix