Faf de Klerk returns to Starting XV this weekend

The Lions head into Saturday’s action at the summit, but only three points separate the top five sides after a dramatic third round. Defending champions Griquas sit just one point behind the Johannesburg outfit, while the Cheetahs, Boland Cavaliers and Stormers XXIII are all within touching distance.

The Lions and Griquas will meet in Kimberley in the headline fixture, while the Bulls XV return to Loftus Versfeld searching for their first victory of the campaign against the Pumas. The Sharks XV will then host Boland in KwaMashu before the Stormers XXIII and Cheetahs bring the round to a close at Athlone Stadium on Sunday.

Faf de Klerk has been named to start at scrum half for the Cheetahs in a high stakes clash with the Stormers XXIII, with the Rugby World Cup winning Springbok taking the nine jersey for the first time since arriving from Japan. With no unbeaten teams remaining, every point could prove vital as the competition reaches the business end of the early season.

The defending champions Griquas welcome the league-leading Lions to Suzuki Stadium on Saturday in arguably the standout fixture of Round 4. Griquas enter the contest on the back of an impressive 24-21 victory over the Cheetahs in Kimberley last weekend, a result which moved them onto 11 points and kept them firmly in the semi-final picture.

The Lions, meanwhile, climbed to the top of the standings after producing one of the performances of the campaign so far, overpowering the Bulls XV 42-19 in the Jukskei Derby. Both teams have won two of their opening three matches and will be determined to claim an important victory in a tightly packed table.

Griquas captain Albert Liebenberg leads the side from the second row, while experienced fly-half George Whitehead will again provide direction from No. 10. Bobby Alexander starts at scrum-half, with Carl Els and Carel van der Merwe forming part of the loose-forward unit.

The Lions will look to Morne Venter, Jarod Cairns and Thando Biyela to provide their physicality in the back row, while Sam Francis starts at fly-half alongside scrum-half Asad Moos. With just one point separating the sides, this could prove to be a pivotal encounter in the race for home advantage in the semi-finals.

Starting XV: 1. Leon Lyons, 2. Tiaan Lange, 3. Ig Prinsloo, 4. Malembe Mpofu, 5. Albert Liebenberg (c), 6. Lourens Oosthuizen, 7. Carel van der Merwe, 8. Carl Els, 9. Bobby Alexander, 10. George Whitehead, 11. Gurshwin Wehr, 12. Mnombo Zwelendaba, 13. Zane Bester, 14. Dylan Maart, 15. Stefan Coetzee

Replacements: 16. Janus Venter, 17. Eddie Davids, 18. Ntobeko Shezi, 19. Derick Pretorius, 20. Dillon Smith, 21. Jack Hart, 22. Sako Makata, 23. Connor Mahoney

Starting XV: 1. Morgan Naude, 2. Mahle Sithole, 3. Conraad van Vuuren, 4. Tiaan Wessels, 5. Dylan Sjoblom, 6. Thando Biyela, 7. Jarod Cairns, 8. Morne Venter, 9. Asad Moos, 10. Sam Francis, 11. Jason Hugo, 12. Rynhardt Jonker, 13. Likhona Finca, 14. Keagan Smith, 15. Gilermo Mentoe

Replacements: 16. Ruan Welman, 17. Cecil Parsons, 18. Ruan Swart, 19. JD Hattingh, 20. Renzo du Plessis, 21. Layton Horn, 22. Exauce Kevani, 23. Luke Cannon

The Bulls XV return to Loftus Versfeld desperate to kick-start their Currie Cup campaign when they host the Pumas on Saturday afternoon. The Pretoria outfit have collected just one log point from their opening three matches and will be looking for a response after suffering a heavy 42-19 defeat to the Lions last weekend.

Defence will be a major focus for the Bulls, who have conceded 122 points so far this season, but home advantage provides an opportunity to reset with the Pumas arriving in Pretoria having rediscovered their winning touch. The Pumas claimed a 20-15 victory over the previously unbeaten Boland Cavaliers in Wellington last weekend, becoming the only travelling side to win in Round 3.

Bulls captain Keagan Johannes starts at scrum-half, with Devon Williams wearing No. 10 and Hakeem Kunene completing the back three at full-back. Dieter Schubert anchors the Bulls pack at No. 8, with Abongile Nonkontwana and Kebotile Maake alongside him in the loose forwards.

The Pumas will be led by captain Willie Engelbrecht from the back row, while Thomas Bursey and Nevaldo Fleurs form the half-back pairing. With the Bulls desperate for their first win and the Pumas looking to build momentum, Saturday's meeting has all the ingredients of a significant contest.

Starting XV: 1. Dylan Smith, 2. Siphosethu Mnebelele, 3. Jean Erasmus, 4. Johnathan Eloff, 5. Sintu Manjezi, 6. Kebotile Maake, 7. Abongile Nonkontwana, 8. Dieter Schubert, 9. Keagan Johannes (c), 10. Devon Williams, 11. Lindsey Jansen, 12. Christiaan Vlok, 13. Demitre Erasmus, 14. Riyaad Bam, 15. Hakeem Kunene

Replacements: 16. Jon Hobson, 17. Damian Baker, 18. Dian Coetzee, 19. Jacques Swarts, 20. Cephas van Biljon, 21. Thomas Beling, 22. Brooklyn Newman, 23. Aka Boqwana

Starting XV: 1. Etienne Janeke, 2. Chyle van Zyl, 3. Sampie Swiegers, 4. JJ Scheepers, 5. Tiaan de Klerk, 6. Ntsika Fisanti, 7. Ruwald van der Merwe, 8. Willie Engelbrecht (c), 9. Thomas Bursey, 10. Nevaldo Fleurs, 11. Banie Britz, 12. Wian van Niekerk, 13. Sango Xamlashe, 14. Alfondso Isaacs, 15. Jay-Cee Nel

Replacements: 16. Jan-Henning Campher, 17. Kudzwai Dube, 18. Junior Banda, 19. Stephan Krugel, 20. Thabo Ndimande, 21. Russwill Fredericks, 22. Tino Swanepoel, 23. Darren Adonis

The Sharks XV will look to turn promising performances into points on the Currie Cup table when they welcome the Boland Cavaliers to Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday evening. The Sharks currently sit seventh after one win and two defeats, with last weekend's 36-28 loss to the Stormers XXIII leaving them six points behind the league-leading Lions.

Despite that record, the Durban side have shown plenty of attacking threat and will hope their youthful squad can produce a complete performance against one of the competition's early surprise packages. Boland's unbeaten start came to an end last weekend when the Pumas secured a 20-15 victory, but the Cavaliers remain fourth on 10 points and have made an immediate impression since returning to the Premier Division.

Sharks captain Ross Braude starts at scrum-half, with Tim Swiel at fly-half and Luan Giliomee at full-back. Tinotenda Mavesere provides the carrying threat at No. 8, while Johan Momsen and Willem van den Hever complete the loose-forward trio. Boland will be led by captain Thurlow Marsh from No. 8, with Louis Schreuder and Ashlon Davids controlling the game from half-back.

The Sharks will be hoping home advantage can help them close the gap, while Boland have an opportunity to respond immediately after their first defeat of the season.

Starting XV: 1. Phiwayinkosi ‘Rambo’ Kubheka, 2. Bryce Calvert, 3. Simphiwe Ngobese, 4. Meno Barnard, 5. Deon Slabbert, 6. Willem van den Hever, 7. Johan Momsen, 8. Tinotenda Mavesere, 9. Ross Braude (c), 10. Tim Swiel, 11. Khuthi Rasivhaga, 12. Janco Purchase, 13. Lyle Matthews, 14. Christie Grobbelaar, 15. Luan Giliomee

Replacements: 16. Kerron van Vuuren, 17. Jaco du Toit, 18. Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19. Hanu Pieterse, 20. Wasi Vyambwera, 21. Juan Loots, 22. Albie Bester, 23. Chijindu Okonta

Starting XV: 1. Mthokozisi Gumede, 2. Joshua Eras, 3. Dayan van der Westhuizen, 4. Johnré Stopforth, 5. Marlyn Williams, 6. Gift Dlamini, 7. Khwezi Mafu, 8. Thurlow Marsh (c), 9. Louis Schreuder, 10. Ashlon Davids, 11. Jayden Bantom, 12. Jurick Lewis, 13. Lunathi Nxele, 14. Xavier Mitchell, 15. Domenic Smit

Replacements: 16. Darnell Osuagwu, 17. Dewald Maritz, 18. Heiko Pohlmann, 19. Jeandré Leonard, 20. Taine Booysen, 21. Godlen Masimla, 22. Chris Smit, 23. James Tedder

The Stormers XXIII and Cheetahs will bring Round 4 to a close on Sunday when they meet at Athlone Stadium in a clash with major implications at the top end of the Currie Cup table.

The Stormers moved to within three points of the Lions last weekend after defeating the Sharks XV 36-28, securing a valuable bonus point in the process.

They now face a Cheetahs side looking to respond after suffering their first defeat of the season. The Free Staters were edged 24-21 by defending champions Griquas in Kimberley, despite producing a strong second-half fightback.

Stormers captain Jean-Luc du Plessis will wear No. 10, with Stefan Ungerer starting at scrum-half. Dylan Miller, Suleiman Hartzenberg and Mfundo Ndhlovu make up the back three, while Josh Boulle and Markus Muller form the midfield.

The Stormers pack includes Divan Fuller at No. 8, with Louw Nel and Xola Nyali alongside him. The Cheetahs will be captained by Neels Volschenk from the back row, while former Springbok Faf de Klerk starts at scrum-half alongside fly-half Ethan Wentzel.

The visitors have enjoyed a dominant recent record against the Stormers, winning their last seven meetings. But with the Cape side firmly in the hunt for a semi-final place, Sunday promises to be another significant test.

Starting XV: 1. Mhleli Khuzwayo, 2. Vernon Paulo, 3. Herman Lubbe, 4. Tom Barnard, 5. Gary Porter, 6. Xola Nyali, 7. Louw Nel, 8. Divan Fuller, 9. Stefan Ungerer, 10. Jean-Luc du Plessis (c), 11. Mfundo Ndhlovu, 12. Josh Boulle, 13. Markus Muller, 14. Suleiman Hartzenberg, 15. Dylan Miller

Replacements: 16. Altus Rabe, 17. Hencus van Wyk, 18. Danie Kruger, 19. Gerbrandt Grobler, 20. Luan Botha, 21. Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22. Kyle Smith, 23. Gino Cupido

Starting XV: 1. Tebogo Nkosi, 2. Marko Janse van Rensburg, 3. Frankie Dos Reis, 4. Simon Miller, 5. Victor Sekekete, 6. Ramon Uys, 7. Juan Venter, 8. Neels Volschenk (c), 9. Faf de Klerk, 10. Ethan Wentzel, 11. Prince Nkabinde, 12. Zander du Plessis, 13. Marco Jansen van Vuren, 14. Michael Annies, 15. Clayton Blommetjies

Replacements: 16. Juan Smal, 17. Tielman Niewoudt, 18. Aranos Coetzee, 19. Curtly Thomas, 20. Daniel Maartens, 21. Sisonke Vumazonke, 22. Cohen Jasper, 23. Jooste Nel