Danie Rossouw will replace Bakkies Botha in the Vodacom Bulls team for their match against the Crusaders at Loftus Versfeld on Friday and will earn his 100th Super Rugby cap in the process.

This is one of two changes coach Frans Ludeke made from the side that finished off the Sharks at the same venue last week.

The other change sees a fit-again Jaco van der Westhuyzen replacing Heini Adams on the bench for the clash that could secure the Bulls a home semi-final.

Van der Westhuyzen recovered from a calf strain.

“Jaco’s inclusion gives us more variety on the bench. We have Francois Hougaard as cover at scrumhalf and is looking at Jaco’s experience to provide us with something extra,” Ludeke explained.

Rossouw’s swop with Botha (who played his first match of the competition last week) is part of the latter’s comeback process into the side after an ankle operation.

The team is:

15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 13. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Francois Hougaard, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Fourie du Preez, 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Dewald Potgieter, 6. Deon Stegmann, 5. Victor Matfield (c), 4. Danie Rossouw, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Gary Botha, 1. Gurthrö Steenkamp.

Replacements: 16. Bandise Maku, 17. Bees Roux, 18. Bakkies Botha, 19. Derick Kuün, 20. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 21. Stephan Dippenaar, 22. Pedrie Wannenburg.

The Vodacom Blue Bulls are looking to finish their Vodacom Cup campaign undefeated when they face the Free State Cheetahs in the final of the Vodacom Cup at Loftus B on Friday.

Coach Nico Serfontein only made one forced change on his bench where Zane Botha is ruled out with a broken jaw and will be replaced by Jaco Fourie.

He is fully aware that his side’s winning run of nine matches could come to a cruel halt if they lose the final. “It happened to us last year and we still hurt. We have learned a lesson and will not make the same mistake again,” Serfontein said.

The team is: Tiger Mangweni, Sello Mametsa, Deon Helberg, Stefan Watermeyer, Vainon Willis, Francois Brummer, Ruan Snyman, Gerrit-Jan van Velze (c), Devin Oosthuizen, Okkie Kruger, Mthunzi Mabeta, Cornell Hess, Dean Greyling, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jaco Engels. Replacements: Jaco Fourie, Rossouw De Klerk, Morné Mellett, Vincent Gwavu, Danie Faasen, Marnitz Boshoff, Ernst Dinkelman