On Saturday, the Toyota Cheetahs are kicking off their Carling Currie Cup campaign against the NovaVit Griffons in a Free State derby. The game at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein starts at 13:55, and the gates open at 12:30. The game will be live on SuperSport 211.

Free parking is available inside Toyota Stadium if you drive a Toyota and have a valid match ticket. Enter from Att Horak Avenue.

Supporters are urged to come early to take a picture with the Currie Cup in the foyer of the main stand building before the game.

Tickets are R70 for the main stand, R40 for the open stand, and only R30 for students and kids. Tickets are available online at www.ticketpro.co.za or at the ticket office in Toyota Stadium.

“It’s good being back now (from Ospreys), even though I learned a couple of things. I think now that I’m here, the main focus is here, and my main focus is on winning the Currie Cup.” Said captian Victor Sekekete.

“ The Griffons worked on their game, credit to them, but that means it’s game on now. The target is on our back, but that also means we are going to attack. We just not only going to defend and take the shots, we are also going to go out to play rugby.”

“Currie Cup remains the most important competition in South Africa. I think it’s also a base for many players throughout the years. I think as players, we embrace it , and we always look forward to it because it’s an exceptional competition.”

“We’ve got to get back on the horse. Although we didn’t have a good SA Cup, we gave players chances, but now we are back and have a settled side, said Izak van der Westhuizen, head coach of the Toyota Cheetahs.

Coach Izak van der Westhuizen announced his team with 9 players* making their Currie Cup debut for the Toyota Cheetahs.

Toyota Cheetahs vs NovaVit Griffons:

15. Litha Nkula*

14. Sbu Nkosi*

13. Munier Hartzenberg

12. Ali Mgijima

11. Daniel Kasende

10. Ethan Wentzel*

9. Rewan Kruger

8. Jeandre Rudolph

7. Aidon Davis

6. Gideon van der Merwe

5. Victor Sekekete (C)

4. Mzwanele Zito

3. Aranos Coetzee

2. Marko Janse van Rensburg

1. Schalk Ferreira.

Reserves:

16. Vernon Paulo*

17. Cameron Dawson

18. Robert Hunt*

19. Pierre Uys*

20. Neels Volschenk*

21. Jandré Nel*

22. Marco Jansen van Vuren*

23. George Lourens

The referee for the match is Paul Mente and the TMO is Ben Crouse.

Players not available:

The following players are not eligible for team selection due to injury:

Daniel Maartens (hip), Reagan Oranje (knee), Siba Xamlashe (bone fracture), Reinhardt Fortuin (back), Hencus van Wyk (neck), Ruben de Haas (hamstring), Laurence Victor (calf), Carl Wegner (hip), Andisa Ntsila (ankle), Thabang Mahlasi (foot), James Verity-Amm (knee), Michael Annies (knee), Friedle Oliver (ankle), Louis van der Westhuizen (knee) and Evardi Boshoff (hamstring).