Sias takes Goosen's spot

Sias Ebersohn has been drafted in to take the place of new Springbok Johan Goosen in the Free State Cheetahs team.

The Cheetahs travel to Durban on Saturday to meet the Sharks as the Currie Cup competition approaches the halfway mark.

The call-up of Goosen to the Bok team has forced the Cheetahs into a backline shuffle this week.

Apart from Ebersohn's call-up into the No.10 jersey, there is also a change on the wing - where Nico Scheepers start ahead of Sevens Springbok Ryno Benjamin, who drops down to the bench.

The injury that has ruled out prop Trevor Nyakane for the rest of the season will see Schalk van der Merwe start at loosehead prop. Ross Geldenhuys comes in on the bench into the spot vacated by Van der Merwe's promotion.

Waltie Vermeulen also replaces suspended Francois Uys on the bench, with Phillip Snyman coming in to fill the spot vacated by Ebersohn's promotion.

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13  Robert Ebersohn (captain), 12 Barry Geel, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Lucas Floors, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Frans Viljoen, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Hercu Liebenberg, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 Elandré Huggett, 17 Ross Geldenhuys, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Phillip Snyman, 22 Ryno Benjamin.

Date: Saturday, September 1

Venue: King's Park, Durban

Kick-off: 17.10 (15.10 GMT)

Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Assistant referees: Jason Jaftha, Reuben Rossouw