Free State Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské has resisted the temptation to rush both his returning Springboks back into the starting XV for their final Currie Cup league match of the season.

The Cheetahs, who can still finish second on the standings and secure home ground advantage in the play-offs, face the Leopards in Phokeng on Friday.

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World Cup-winning Bok flank Juan Smith will start on Friday, but will not take over the captaincy.

Hooker Adriaan Strauss retains the leadership of the team.

The other returning Bok, prop CJ van der Linde, will have to play off the bench, with Drotské starting the same front row that has impressed in recent weeks – WP Nel, Strauss and Coenie Oosthuizen.

Smith replaces Philip van der Walt on the flank, while Van der Linde comes in on the bench in place of Kobus Calldo.

Van der Walt, who suffered a leg injury in the win over the Lions last week, will not feature in the matchday 22 at all this week.

* Meanwhile it was confirmed that Springbok wing Jongi Nokwe will not play again this year and might even miss the opening half of the Super Rugby season after undergoing surgery to his injured knee.

He tore knee ligaments a fortnight ago and went under the knife earlier this week.

He will be sidelined for six to eight months.

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Philip Snyman, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Corné Uys, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Tewis De Bruyn, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tertius Carse, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Riaan Smit.

Date: Friday, October 8
Venue: Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker
Assistant referees: Archie Sehlako, Christie du Preez