United Rugby Championship action returns to Kings Park on Saturday when the Sharks host the Bulls in what should be yet another fiercely contested local derby between the two sides.
Head coach JP Pietersen has largely stuck with the same team that defeated Saracens last week, making one rotational change.
Jordan Hendrikse and George Whitehead swap jerseys at flyhalf, and the other enforced change being Hakeem Kunene who replaces Aphelele Fassi, who left the field last week with concussion.
There are no other changes and Coach Pietersen has opted not to fix what ain’t broke.
His team go into this important match with a morale-boosting 28-23 bonus point Champions Cup victory, while the Bulls arrive in Durban off the back of consecutive losses, a 33-46 home defeat to Bordeaux and a 50-5 mauling by Northampton.
For the Sharks, their win over the three-time Champions Cup champions, is a great confidence booster ahead of their clash against their old rivals.
“A win is always important, it gives you belief, it gives you something you can work on and it gives you motivation and confidence to take into the next game,” said Pietersen.
“We know it’s not going to be easy against the Bulls, they’re also desperate, but what a challenge it’s going to be!”
Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Phatu Ganyane.
Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 George Whitehead.
Date: Saturday, December 20
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 18.00 (16.00 GMT)
Referee: Griffin Colby (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
