The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs host the GWK Griquas at Vodacom Park at 19h00.

Naka Drotske’s men lost their first match of the season, at home against Vodacom Western Province last Saturday, while the team from Kimberley stunned The Sharks last weekend.

The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs conceded two home defeats in their first two Absa Currie games last season – one being against the GWK Griquas, and will be determined to secure their first win in 2010.

Juan Smith returns to captain the Cheetahs side with flank Francois Uys shifting to lock in place of the injured Izak van der Westhuizen.

Griquas have opted to bring back Barry Geel in the midfield with Matthew Rosslee dropping to the bench.

Hendrik Roodt drops out of the 22 with an injury and there’s a start for Albertus Buckle at tighthead.

The Cheetahs and Griquas are both known for playing an enterprising brand of rugby and this could well create an exciting running game in Bloemfontein on Friday.

Griquas showed against the Sharks that their forward pack can cause all sorts of problems on the drive and it’ll take a good comeback from the Cheetahs pack to dust themselves off after getting pushed around by the Province pack last week.

What better way to do this, though, than by bringing hard-man Juan Smith back in to rally his troops.

Prediction:  Dawie Theron is building something special in Kimberley and there’s no team in this competition that can afford to take his men lightly.  They ooze class and pace in the backline and are growing into a formidable pack.  Naka Drotske has plenty of talent at his disposal, but needs to get his men back into the winning groove quickly or they’ll fall to a second successive defeat.  That said the Cheetahs should have just a little too much at home.  Cheetahs by 5.

Free State: Hennie Daniller, Philip Snyman, Robert Ebersohn, Meyer Bosman, Jongi Nokwe, Louis Strydom, Tewis de Bruyn, Ashley Johnson, Juan Smith (capt), Hendro Scholtz, Waltie Vermeulen, Francois Uys, WP Nel, Skipper Badenhorst, Coenie Oosthuizen

Substitutes: Pieter-Willem van Vuuren, Kobus Calldo, Barend Pieterse, Kabamba Floors, Tertius Carse, Corn Uys, Sias Ebersohn

Griquas: Riaan Viljoen; Rocco Jansen, Barry Geel, Wilmaure Louw, Bjorn Basson; Naas Olivier (capt) Sarel Pretorius; Leon Karemaker, Davon Raubenheimer, Wesley Wilkins, Cecil Kemp, Frikkie Spies, Albertus Buckle, Ryno Barnes, Steph Roberts

Substitutes: Simon Westraadt, Zane Kilian, Jacobie Adriaanse, Gerhard Human, Rohan Kitshoff, Marnus Hugo, Matthew Rosslee, Richard Lawson