The Sharks have named their team to face the Highlanders this weekend in Durban, with loosehead prop Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira making his first Super Rugby start of the season.

Mtawarira has been out of rugby with an ankle injury that he sustained in the Sharks pre-season build up and has warmed up for Super Rugby in two matches at a lower tier of rugby.

The team sheet also sees the return of Ryan Kankowski who has also recovered from injury and warmed up alongside Mtwarira but will start off the bench.

The Sharks will make a late call on prop Jannie du Plessis as he took a knock in the match against the Chiefs and could change places with Wiehahn Herbst on the bench.

Sharks coach Plumtree has named Paul Jordaan at outside centre after he has come off the bench in the first three games of the tournament. Jordaan's inclusion moves JP Pietersen back to the wing and Louis Ludik to fullback.

Plumtree has opted for a five forwards and 2 backs split on the bench with Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean Deysel, Ryan Kankowski and Craig Burden providing forward cover and Frederic Michalak and Meyer Bosman covering the backline replacements.

Sharks

1. Tendai Mtawarira , 2. Bismarck du Plessis , 3. Jannie du Plessis / Wiehahn Herbst , 4. Steven Sykes , 5. Anton Bresler , 6. Jacques Botes , 7. Marcell Coetzee , 8. Keegan Daniel ( C ) , 9. Charl McLeod , 10. Patrick Lambie , 11. Lwazi Mvovo , 12. Tim Whitehead , 13. Paul Jordaan , 14. JP Pietersen , 15. Louis Ludik

Replacements , 16. Craig Burden , 17. Wiehahn Herbst / Jannie du Plessis , 18. Pieter-Steph du Toit , 19. Jean Deysel , 20. Ryan Kankowski , 21. Frederic Michalak , 22. Meyer Bosman ,