The Sharks received a timely boost with the news that three vital members of the team will return from injury for their Super 14 match against the Highlanders on Saturday.

Flyhalf Ruan Pienaar has been badly missed by the Durban-based team and, along with the return of Springbok wing JP Pietersen and burly flank Jean Deysel, provides a significant lift to the side with three crucial weekends ahead of them.

"In the next few weeks we're playing some really tough sides in the Highlanders, Waratahs and Bulls," coach John Plumtree said.

"They all have really solid forward packs and game breakers in their backs, so everyone needs to step up," Plumtree added.

"It's a new season for us now, we had our 10 week programme and then our bye week, everyone is refreshed and now it's really the time to perform.

"We're in fourth position with three home games remaining, that's not a bad position, so that's a positive, we just have to make sure we can select a side that is consistent over the next three weeks.

"Obviously having Ruan back is important for that. Amongst the forwards, we have some good depth there as well."

In other changes, Riaan Swanepoel will move to outside centre as Adrian Jacobs is out with a shoulder injury sustained against the Crusaders, while captain Johann Muller is also nursing a bump picked up in that match and is bracketed with Albert van den Berg.

Johan Snyman has been placed on standby and a call on Muller's fitness will be made closer to the match.

Andries Strauss has also been drafted in to the matchday 22.

"It's been a pretty tough campaign in terms of managing injuries, certainly for the last part of it I'd like to have some continuity," added Plumtree.

Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche,14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Riaan Swanepoel, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller (captain)/Albert van den Berg, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 John Smit, 2 Bismarck du Plessis,1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Deon Carstens, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Albert van den Berg/Johan Snyman, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Andries Strauss

Date: Saturday, May 2
Venue: Absa Stadium, Durban
Kick-off: 15:00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Phillip Bosch (South Africa)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Pro Legoete (South Africa)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)

365

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