Ruan Nortje returns but Cameron Hanekom is among the notable absentees as Jake White switches up the Vodacom Bulls lineup to face Zebre Parma at Loftus on Saturday.
Nortje, who injured his knee during the Jukskei derby on 25 January, and prop Simphiwe Matanzima (long-term illness) are in line to feature off the bench in the round 14 Vodacom URC clash in Pretoria.
Matanzima had to be hospitalised in October 2024 after playing with a virus that has affected his heart.
Boeta Chamberlain has also been recalled as one of two backs on a 6-2 bench – the other is scrumhalf Embrose Papier. Akker van der Merwe, Wilco Louw, Marco van Staden and Nizaam Carr make up the rest of the replacements.
Hanekom and fellow Springbok Johan Grobbelaar, who suffered knocks in last week’s last-gasp victory against Leinster, both drop out of the match-day squad.
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Hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels, prop Mornay Smith and No 8 Mpilo Gumede mark the changes to the starting pack, while scrumhalf Zak Burger, fullback Devon Williams and right winger Sergeal Petersen take over from Papier, Willie le Roux (shoulder/neck surgery) and Sebastian de Klerk (suspension) in the backline, respectively.
The 9-4 Bulls are heavy favourites against 5-8 Zebre as the third-placed hosts are 18 points clear of the Italians (15th) on the standings.
BULLS – 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Mpilo Gumede, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.
Bench: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Nizaam Carr, 22 Embrose Papier, 23 Boeta Chamberlain.
Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
