Midfield roles for James and Ludik

Andrew James and Louis Ludik will link up in the midfield for the Sharks in their clash with the Blues at Kings Park this weekend.

The Durban team's starting line-up includes 12 Springboks, with hooker Bismarck du Plessis named on the bench alongside exciting scrumhalf Cobus Reinach who is also returning from injury.

The Blues are chasing a top six finish and will no doubt be looking to give it their all against a Sharks side determined to show what they are capable of despite being out of the running for a play-off spot.

"The Blues have always had a willingness to play from all areas of the field and if you look at the players they have - certainly in the backline - they have x-factor players all over the field," explained Sharks assistant coach Grant Bashford.

"They are a handful with the right ball so we need to stunt them and limit them quality ball, deny them gain-line quick ball."

He added that the Sharks will look to put the visitors under pressure in the set-pieces, with their Springbok props and loose forwards sure to play an important role in this area.

"Their line-out hasn't functioned as well as they would have liked at times this year, their scrum has also put them under a bit of pressure. We have areas we would like to put them under pressure, but that's the case with every team you play. It won't be a surprise to them in any way.

"For us, it's about regrouping really quickly and trying to finish this campaign on a high."

Sharks: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Louis Ludik, 12 Andrew James, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Keegan Daniel (captain), 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Edwin Hewitt, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Daniel Mienie/Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Jandre Marais, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Jacques Botes, 21 Jacobus Reinach, 22 Jaco van Tonder.

Date: Saturday, June 29

Venue: Kings Park, Durban

Kick-off: 14.50 (12.50 GMT; 00.50, Sunday, June 30 NZ time)

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Tiaan Jonker (South Africa), Reuben Rossouw (South Africa)

TMO: Willie Roos (South Africa)