Sharks coach John Plumtree has had no hesitation in throwing in those returning Springbok players who were willing to give up a rest and instead turn out for their provincial team a week after the conclusion of a grueling but successful Tri-Nations campaign.

Whilst most of the players who had been selected to start for the Boks each week were expected to take a short break, they have shown their commitment to their team by making themselves available for Saturday?s showdown with the Free State Cheetahs at the Absa Stadium Durban.

Of the 11 Boks lost to the Sharks, Johann Muller, JP Pietersen and Beast Mtawarira are unavailable due to injury, but John Plumtree has brought in three to start with another four on the bench, including South Africa?s most successful Springbok captain, John Smit.

Of the returning Boks, Odwa Ndungane comes straight back into the starting line-up, replacing Chris Jordaan on the right wing while Ryan Kankowski and Jannie du Plessis are the two changes made amongst the forwards. The injury to Riaan Swanepoel means Waylon Murray will start at outside centre with Andries Strauss shifting to inside centre.

Springboks John Smit, Bismarck du Plessis, Ruan Pienaar and Adi Jacobs will provide ample cover off the bench as will Keegan Daniel who will be making his 50th Currie Cup appearance for the Sharks.

However, it?s not only about the returning Boks, but the players who have carried the team?s hopes and aims all season ? very successfully at that ? and deserve great credit for the way they have performed during the last 10 weeks.

For any side to lose almost a full team or regulars, not to mention the injury toll that adds a few to that list, they could be forgiven for not performing at a consistently high level. However, in The Sharks? case, eight wins from 10 starts and top of the log with four more rounds to play before the knockout stages translates to a committed team effort, and that?s exactly what will be needed to take them all the way.

The Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche (captain), 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Juan Hernandez, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Albert van den Berg, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Deon Carstens.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 John Smit, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Adrian Jacobs

Date: Saturday, September, 19
Venue: Absa Stadium Durban
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant referees: Matt Kemp, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Johann Meuwesen