They travel to Bloemfontein to face winless FNB CUT and will be focused on collecting a bonus point for scoring four tries. This will take them to 21 log-points and potentially third on the standings, depending what happens in the other game in Bloemfontein and the match on the Green Mile.

Paul Streicher makes his debut as he lines up in the number 13 jumper outside Koos Loubser. On the wings Craig Barry swaps to the number 11 jersey and Jamie Joseph will look to add some power to the Maties running game.

The halfbacks remain the same with a rejigged loose trio. Janco Venter earns his first start of the season with Derick Linde wearing the captain’s armband. Justin Benn, who made 26 tackles last week, wears the number 6 jersey and will look to continue his impressive run of contributions.

Kobus van Dyk slots into the second row this week and will partner a pink shorts wearing Lourens Fick.

Jacobus van der Merwe is another player which earns his first start of the season and his front row partners are dynamic hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg and prop Niel Oelofse.

Among the substitutes prop Wesley Adonis has recovered from his injury troubles and is joined by hooker Craig Corbett, lock Grant Prior, flanker Lungelo Chonco and prop Abel de Klerk as cover for the heavies.

Scrumhalf Louis Nel makes a first appearance in 2015, having earned three caps in the 2014 edition of the Varsity Cup. Nel, alongside flyhalf Ernest Stapelberg and utility back Kyle Leibrandt, will be itching to get a run and stake claim for involvement in a possible semifinal.

In the 23 man squad only seven players have more than 10 Varsity caps and 15 are in their debut season in the competition. Considering the rawness of this team the rugby might not be polished but the effort is sure to be one to watch.

FNB Maties: 15 Mike Muller, 14 Jamie Joseph, 13 Paul Streicher, 12 Koos Loubser, 11 Craig Barry, 10 Brandon Thomson, 9 Bjorn Bernardo, 8 Janco Venter, 7 Derick Linde (Captain), 6 Justin Benn, 5 Kobus van Dyk , 4 Lourens Fick, 3 Jacobus van der Merwe, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Niel Oelofse.
Replacements: 16 Craig Corbett, 17 Wesley Adonis, 18 Grant Prior, 19 Lungelo Chonco, 20 Louis Nel, 21 Ernest Stapelberg, 22 Kyle Leibrandt, 23 Abel de Klerk.

Date: Monday, March 23
Venue: CUT Rugby Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 18.30

By Dorfling Terblanche