Marais get Bulls debut

It will be a 37th Super Rugby appearance for the versatile outside back - his first start for the Bulls since he moved to Pretoria from PE on a trial basis earlier this season.

This will only be his second game for the Bulls though, after the former Southern Kings (eight caps) and Sharks (27 caps) player came off the bench in the win against the Cheetahs last weekend.

Marais takes over from Jesse Kriel, who returns to the midfield to partner Jan Serfontein.

Kriel moves to outside centre, with Serfontein moving to the inside berth left vacant by the injury to Burger Odendaal.

Jesse Kriel's twin brother, Dan, moves onto the bench and could make his Super Rugby debut should he take to the field.

Rudy Paige is also out injured and Piet van Zyl will start at No.9 for the first time this year, with Ivan van Zyl remaining on the bench as back-up scrumhalf.

In changes to the pack, Arno Botha returns to the No.8 position, replacing Nic de Jager, while Pieter Labuschagne is back in the starting pack. He replaces Roelof Smit, who moves to the bench.

In another change Trevor Nyakane will start at loosehead prop, with Lizo Gqoboka dropping out.

Two new faces on the bench is Marvin Orie and Werner Kruger.

Orie comes in for Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg and Kruger takes the seat vacated by Nyakane.

Bulls: 15 SP Marais, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Pieter Labuschagne, 5 Rudolph Snyman, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane.

Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Roelof Smit, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Francois Brummer, 23 Dan Kriel.

Date: Saturday, April 9

Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Kick-off: 19.15 (17.15 GMT)

Referee: Shuhei Kubo (Japan)

Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Archie Sehlako (South Africa)

TMO: Christie du Preez (South Africa)