The Sharks have been able to name flyhalf Patrick Lambie in their team to face the Blues this weekend after he missed the last two matches with a dental injury.

Sharks coach John Plumtree has moved Michalak to the bench as half-back cover with Meyer Bosman as the other backline replacement in a 5-2 split in the replacements.

Craig Burden who gets his second consecutive start and Kyle Cooper who flew in to Auckland to replace Bismarck du Plessis after he returned to Durban with a an adductor strain.

Despite early injury concerns to Tim Whitehead and Marcell Coetzee following the tough match against the Hurricanes in New Plymouth last Friday, both have recovered fully and will remain in the starting line-up.

The final change is rotational, with Jean Deysel getting his first start of the season, replacing big Willem Alberts who will play off the bench.

Sharks

1. Dale Chadwick , 2. Craig Burden , 3. Jannie du Plessis , 4. Steven Sykes , 5. Anton Bresler , 6. Marcell Coetzee , 7. Jean Deysel , 8. Keegan Daniel (Captain) , 9. Charl McLeod , 10. Patrick Lambie , 11. Lwazi Mvovo , 12. Tim Whitehead , 13. JP Pietersen , 14. Louis Ludik , 15. Riaan Viljoen

Replacements:16. Kyle Cooper , 17. Wiehahn Herbst , 18. Jandre Marais , 19. Willem Albert , 20. Jacques Botes , 21. Meyer Bosman , 22. Frederic Michalak