Boom Prinsloo has been named as captain of the Toyota Free State Cheetahs for their opening Currie Cup encounter against the MTN Golden Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

With regular captain Adriaan Strauss on Springbok duty, Prinsloo will lead the side. Prinsloo will start in the No 6 jersey in place of Heinrich Brüssow, who headed to Japan after the conclusion of the Super Rugby season.

Leopards recruit Jon-Roy Jenkinson will start at tighthead prop in place of Bok Trevor Nyakane, Hercu Liebenberg at hooker in place of Strauss and Caylib Oosthuizen at loosehead prop in place of Coenie Oosthuizen.

Elgar Watts has been named at flyhalf, with Riaan Smith moving to the wing – a position that was occupied by Springbok flyer Willie le Roux during the Super Rugby season.

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Riaan Smit, 13 Johan Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Pieter “Lappies” Labuschagne, 6 Johannes “Boom” Prinsloo (Captain), 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Jon-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Hercu Liebenberg, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.

Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, Wian du Preez, 18 Teboho Mohoje, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Joubert Engelbrecht, 22 Piet Lindeque.