Sharks boss Jake White has picked centre Frans Steyn to start against the Cheetahs on Saturday following his controversial departure from the Springbok squad.
Jean Deysel will take over the captaincy armband.
White has also rested a number of the returning Srpingboks including flyhalf Pat Lambie who is still out with injury after many expected him to be fit.
White opted to start Tim Swiel in the No.10 jersey and named Steyn at No.12.
With the heavy workload suffered by the Sharks and Springbok front row, White opted for rotation.
Dale Chadwick, Kyle Cooper and Lourens Adriaanse will start – with the Du Plessis brothers, Bismarck and Jannie, playing off the bench.
Tendai Mtawarira is still recovering from the neck injury (bulged disc) he suffered in the Tests against Wales last month.
Anton Bresler, who will join Scottish club Edinburgh at the conclusion of the Super Rugby season, makes a welcome return to action after recovering from a shoulder injury.
He has been named in the new-look second row alongside new Springbok Stefan Lewies.
The bench, loaded with six Springboks, should provide plenty of firepower in the latter stages of this vital clash.
Thomas du Toit, back from an outstanding campaign for the South African Under-20 side, has earned a call-up to the senior side as well, having featured in the Vodacom Cup for the Sharks XV earlier this season.
Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Sibusiso Sithole, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel (captain), 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Thomas du Toit, 17 Bismarck du Plessis, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Lubabalo Mtembu, 21 Charl McLeod, 22 Odwa Ndungane, 23 Tonderai Chavhanga.
