Derick Kuün will celebrate his 50th Super Rugby cap for the Vodacom Bulls in style after being included in the starting line up for his side’s clash against the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.

Kuün replaces Deon Stegmann in the number six jersey in the only change from the side that beat the Chiefs in Hamilton last weekend. The 25 year old flanker missed that match due to an ankle strain, but is fit again and will become the 10th Bulls player to achieve this milestone.

Stegmann was named on the bench.

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke indicated that his rotational policy comes in play with this decision and added that it is easy to do so, due to the excellent work by his medical staff.

“The fact that we can pick almost the same team week after week is testimony to the great work the medical staff is doing. There are almost no niggles to speak of and that makes it so much easier to manage the group,” Ludeke said.

Pedrie Wannenburg is still bracketed with Jaco Engels on the bench though, with the veteran loose forward struggling with a calf strain.

Ludeke believes that Wannenburg will be fit to play in his 107th match, with Engels probably watching the game from the stands.

John Mametsa’s inclusion will be determined by the way he slots in with the team during their training session on Wednesday, where he will join them for the first time.

The team (with caps) is:

Zane Kirchner (34), Gerhard van den Heever (12), Stephan Dippenaar (8), Wynand Olivier (65), Francois Hougaard (11), Morné Steyn (67), Fourie du Preez (93), Pierre Spies (50), Dewald Potgieter (25), Derick Kuün (49), Victor Matfield (103, k), Danie Rossouw (96), Werner Kruger (36), Gary Botha (67), Gurthrö Steenkamp (60).
Replacements: Bandise Maku (15), Bees Roux (24), Flip van der Merwe (14), Deon Stegmann (33), Heini Adams (33)/John Mametsa (5), Jacques-Louis Potgieter (25), Pedrie Wannenburg (106)/Jaco Engels (39).

Milestones:

Pedrie Wannenburg will play in his 107th match of which 93 consecutive. Both are franchise records.

Victor Matfield will captain the side for the 55th time, a Bulls and SA Rugby record.

Derick Kuün will play his 50th match. He debuted in 2007 against the Sharks.

Pierre Spies (95), Fourie du Preez (90) and Wynand Olivier (90) all have a chance to score 100 points in Super Rugby.

Morné Steyn (643 points) have the opportunity to extend his Bulls points record in Super Rugby. He can also pass André Pretorius (645) as the leading South African points-scorer in the competition.

John McFarland, defence coach, will be involved in his 100th Super Rugby match with the Bulls.

Gerhard van den Heever, who turned 21 today, is the youngest member of the team.