Platinum Leopards’ coach Leon Boshoff made only one change in the starting line-up of his side that travels to George to face the South Western Districts (SWD) Eagles on Friday in the second leg of their Absa Currie Cup promotion-relegation tie.
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Lock Draad Linde, who will be earning his 100th first class cap, was selected to lead the Potchefstroom side out as they look to retain their place in the Premier Division for the third consecutive year.
He replaces Brad Mockford, who drops to the bench.
Boshoff also brought under-21 captain Joubert Engelbrecht into the squad.
Engelbrecht will make his senior debut off the bench and will be hoping to follow the example set by fellow under-21 star JP Marais, who scored two tries on debut in last week’s 37-22 victory over the Eagles.
The Leopards need only two log points from Friday’s encounter to avoid relegation.
The SWD Eagles are going into the match with a 15 point deficit which they will have to make up if they hope to be in contention for promotion. They will also have to deny the visitors bonus points for losing by less than seven and scoring four tries.
Leopards: Danie Dames; Dumisane Matyeshana, Kempie Rautenbach, Walter Venter, Colin Lloyd; Clayton Durand, Michael Bondesio; RW Kember, Palm Koch (capt), Victor Joubert, Draad Linde, Christo van Niekerk, Eric Coetzee, Gavin Williamson, BG Uys. Replacements: Stoffel Duvenhage, Divan Kotze, Brad Mockford, Bennie Adams, Theo van Wyk, Joubert Engelbrecht, SP Marais.