The Cheetahs received a timely boost ahead of their Super Rugby crunch match with the defending champion Bulls on Friday.

Inspirational captain Juan Smith passed a fitness test and will lead the team out in Bloemfontein.

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Smith, who missed a large portion of the 2010 season through injury and personal issues, suffered a calf strain in the pre-season build-up and missed last week’s 9-24 loss to the Sharks.

Smith’s inclusion in the side is one of three changes to the starting XV – two of which are injury related. Smith takes the place of Philip van der Walton the flank and also takes over the captaincy from injured hooker Adriaan Strauss (fracture hand).

Ryno Barnes will start at hooker and Skipper Badenhorst comes in on the bench as cover in the front row.

The only change not related to injury is at lock, where Waltie Vermeulen will start alongside Wilhelm Steenkamp and Francois Uys drops down to the bench.

The inclusion of Vermeulen, alongside former Bull Steenkamp, is a move to counter the Bulls’ incredible line-out prowess – spearheaded by Victor Matfield.

Apart from Matfield, the Bulls field line-out specialist in Bakkies Botha and Pierre Spies in the starting XV, with Flip van der Merwe and Danie Rossouw set to come off the bench.

Steenkamp, an apprentice of Matfield during his stay in Pretoria before his move in the off-season, could be a key player on Friday.

Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Philip Burger, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Ryno Benjamin, 10 Naas Olivier (vice-captain), 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Kabamba Floors, 7 Juan Smith (captain), 6 Frans Viljoen, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Waltie Vermeulen, 3 WP Nel, 2 Rayno Barnes, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Kobus Calldo, 18 Francois Uys, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Riaan Viljoen.

Date: Friday, February 25
Venue: Free State stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Marius Jonker (South Africa), Christie du Preez (South Africa)
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee (South Africa)

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