Asher Opoku-Fordjour switches to loosehead while Rob du Preez moves to full-back as Alex Sanderson makes three changes to his XV for the visit of Saracens on Sunday (KO 3pm, LIVE on TNT Sports).
After a series of powerful cameos off the bench, Jos Gilmore comes into the back row in place of Dan du Preez for his first Gallagher Prem start.
Hooker Ethan Caine starts once again in a front row that includes Opoku-Fordjour and James Harper at tighthead.
Skipper Ernst van Rhyn once again teams up with Ben Bamber in the second row while Jacques Vermeulen, Sam Dugdale and Sharks Academy graduate Gilmore make up a dynamic back row.
Gus Warr starts again at scrum-half with George Ford at fly-half and outside them, Rekeiti Ma’asi-White is joined in the centres by Marius Louw.
With Joe Carpenter missing with a groin injury picked up against Leinster, it’s all change in the back three as Rob du Preez switches from centre to full-back, Tom O’Flaherty moves from the left to the right and Tom Roebuck comes into the number 11 shirt.
On the bench, Academy hooker Alfie Longstaff is joined by props Ralph McEachran and Tye Raymont. Reuben Logan and lock Dylan Hodkinson, who will make his Gallagher Prem debut if he comes on, and Tristan Woodman are the other forwards named as replacements as Alex opts for a 6-2 split.
Dom Hanson and Joe Bedlow make up the rest of the bench.
Starting XV:
15. Rob du Preez, 14. Tom O’Flaherty, 13. Marius Louw, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Tom Roebuck, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 2. Ethan Caine, 3. James Harper, 4. Ernst van Rhyn ©, 5. Ben Bamber, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Jos Gilmore, 8. Sam Dugdale.
Replacements:
16. Alfie Longstaff, 17. Ralph McEachran, 18. Tye Raymont, 19. Dylan Hodkinson, 20. Reuben Logan, 21. Dom Hanson, 22. Joe Bedlow, 23. Tristan Woodman.
