Six players in the starting line-up will make their FNB Varsity Cup debut for Tuks. They are Gertjie Smith (fullback), Dirk Dippenaar (right wing), Ernie Kruger (outside centre), Marius Weber (No 8), Marius Oosthuizen (flank), Francois van Wyk, Tiaan Nel (locks) and Chris Crous (hooker).

Irrespective of who gets the eventual nod as replacement hooker, there will also be six players on the bench who make their Varsity Cup debut for Tuks. They are Robbie Coetzee/AJ le Roux (hooker), Musa Tukela (prop), Joe Walter (utility forward), Oswin Mentoor (utility forward), Fanie Booysen (utility back) and the Marais brothers, Wesleigh (scrumhalf) en Donnovan (centre).

The team is:

15 GERTJIE SMITH

14 DIRK DIPPENAAR

13 ERNIE KRUGER

12 FRANCO BOOYSEN

11 AARON DENENGA

10 SHAUN DAVIDS (c)

9 IGNICK WINDVOGEL

8 MARIUS WEBER

7 MARIUS OOSTHUIZEN

6 WARWICK TECKLENBURG

5 FRANCOIS VAN WYK

4 TIAAN NEL

3 HEIN VILJOEN

2 CHRIS CROUS

1 ETTIENNE BREYTENBACH

Replacements

16 ROBBIE COETZEE/AJ LE ROUX

17 MUSA TUKELA

18 JOE WALTERS

19 OSWIN MENTOOR

20 WESLEIGH MARAIS

21 DONNOVAN MARAIS

22 FANIE BOOYSEN

23 DANIE OOSTHUIZEN