The Sharks have been boosted for their Currie Cup match against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein by the return of Springbok winger JP Pietersen.

Louis Ludik starts at fullback while Meyer Bosman is named to take over from Riaan Viljoen at flyhalf - where he was named last week, before the conditions dictated a change in style and Viljoen was moved there, but has been named on the bench this weekend to accommodate the changes.

Charl McLeod's experience at scrumhalf will be called into play for this big match where he starts ahead of the exciting Cobus Reinach in a straight rotational switch.

In the only change to the pack, Steven Sykes is out with Jandre Marais taking his place in the second row. On the bench Julian Redelinghuys slips out of the team with Allan Dell given an opportunity out of the Under 21 ranks

"We know we've come unstuck against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein in the past,"said Sharks assistant coach Hugh Reece-Edwards on the Sharks site, "but we've also learnt how to get a winning result there in recent times.

"It's a massive game for both sides and it should be a great clash."

Sharks

15. Louis Ludik , 14. Odwa Ndungane , 13. Paul Jordaan , 12. Tim Whitehead , 11. JP Pietersen , 10. Meyer Bosman , 9. Charl McLeod , 8. Keegan Daniel (Capt) , 7. Jean Deysel , 6. Jacques Botes , 5. Anton Bresler , 4. Jandre Marais , 3. Wiehahn Herbst , 2. Pieter Dixon , 1. Dale Chadwick

Replacements :16. Kyle Cooper , 17. Allan Dell , 18. Peet Marais , 19. Tera Mtembu , 20. Cobus Reinach , 21. Riaan Viljoen , 22. S'bura Sithole