Sharks centre Jeremy Ward will captain a team that shows a number of changes for their clash with Griquas in Kimberley on Friday.
Sharks coach Sean Everitt announced his match-day 23 on Thursday morning after delays with the team’s weekly Covid-19 test results postponed the team announcement, originally scheduled for Wednesday.
Unfortunately, there has been one confirmed positive case in the Sharks’ senior group. The player, along with those who have been identified as having close contact with him, are isolating and being monitored by the team doctor.
The team to face Griquas shows five changes from the side that claimed a hard-fought win over the Cheetahs in Durban last weekend. Only one of those changes comes in the backline, where Anthony Volmink will make his debut at fullback against his former side, with Manie Libbok named on the bench.
After playing off the bench for the last couple of games, hooker Kerron van Vuuren will make his first start of the tournament in a rotational change with Dan Jooste, while Ruben van Heerden is back in the second row after two starts for JJ van der Mescht, who will also play off the bench.
In the back row, Thembelani Bholi has earned his first start after two impressive performances as a substitute, while James Venter returns to the starting lineup in place of Dylan Richardson, with Phepsi Buthelezi completing the loose trio at No 8.
There is another potential debut on the bench as former Pumas and Griquas prop Khwezi Mona has been named among the substitutes. Springbok wing Sbu Nkosi has recovered from injury and will play from the bench.
Sharks – 15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Jeremy Ward (c), 12 Marius Louw, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 John-Hubert Meyer, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Khwezi Mona, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Sbu Nkosi.
Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix
