The Sharks will feature 13 internationals when they face the Golden Lions in a decisive Currie Cup match in Durban on Saturday, but Springbok captain John Smit will be rested this week.

Eleven internationals will start, with two Springboks on the bench.

The decision to leave Smit on the sideline - which still leaves the Sharks with an all-Bok starting front row of Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai - Mtawarira is part of coach John Plumtree's plans to "carefully manage" the Bok skipper.

Smit is battling with a slight neck injury and will be left on ice for at least a week.

"The thing with John is that if we want him to last until the 2011 World Cup then we have to manage him very carefully," Plumtree told the media in Durban.

"If he is clearly so important to the Springbok cause that he had to play virtually every minute of the Tri-Nations, and is still going to be on the end-of-year-tours, as well as playing in the June Tests and in the Super 14, then that's a lot of rugby," Plumtree explained.

"He's obviously a key man to the Boks in terms of leadership and organisation, so he needs to be managed properly and I think we can do that in the Super 14, and at a time like now when he's a bit dinged up.

"I think it's something that all parties concerned need to be aware of if we want to extend his longevity over the next couple of years, especially in the tighthead position."

The only other Springboks not in the Sharks starting XV are lock Johann Muller and utility back Adi Jacobs.

Back in the side are wings Odwa Ndungane and JP Pietersen, having recovered from their respective injuries.

The rest of the backline remains unchanged from last week - with the halfback partnership of Ruan Pienaar (still at No.9) and Argentinean Juan Hernandez (No.10) given more time to gel.

Amongst the forwards, Keegan Daniel is back at flank for Michael Rhodes, who shifts to the bench - while Steven Sykes is back in the starting XV at lock for Alistair Hargreaves. The all-Springbok front row completes the picture.

Apart from Smit other injury-enforced absentees are Craig Burden, Jean Deysel and Riaan Swanepoel.

The Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche (captain), 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Juan Hernandez, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Keegan Daniel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Albert van den Berg, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Patric Cilliers, 18 Johann Muller, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Adrian Jacobs.

Date: Saturday, October 3
Venue: Absa Stadium, Durban
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Johann Meuwesen