Johann Sadie will start in his first Currie Cup match for the Vodacom Blue Bulls.

The attacking midfielder has been included in the side to face The Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday and is one of four changes made by coach Pine Pienaar.

Official Blue Bulls Media Release

Johann Sadie replaces Ulrich Beyers who will return to the Under-21 side in the only change amongst the backs.

Up front, Dewald Potgieter returns at number eight after he was ruled out shortly before kick-off last week and will captain the side, with CJ Stander moving to the side of the scrum.

Grant Hattingh, who played on the flank last week, moves to lock in place of Cornell Hess.

The most experienced prop in the province, Werner Kruger, also returns as tighthead, with Frik Kirsten moving to the bench.

Amongst the reserves Arno Botha comes back after a hamstring injury and former Golden Lions scrumhalf Rudy Paige could earn a first start off the bench since being on loan from the Johannesburg team.

“The Sharks are log leaders and undefeated, need I say more about the challenge we have,” Pienaar said on Wednesday.

“We were not at our best last week in Bloemfontein and have no option to recover and rebound from that if we want to beat the Sharks. We have some players back and that will make a difference in the way we play,” he said.

The team is: Jürgen Visser, Akona Ndungane, Johann Sadie, Francois Venter, Clayton Blommetjies, Louis Fouchè, Ruan Snyman, Dewald Potgieter (c), CJ Stander, Deon Stegmann, Grant Hattingh, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Werner Kruger, Willie Wepener, Dawie Steyn.

Replacements: Robbie Coetzee, Frik Kirsten, Cornell Hess, Arno Botha, Rudy Paige, Lionel Cronjè, Jan Serfontein.