A host of familiar names return to the Sharks side after injury as Alex Sanderson makes nine changes to his side for the visit of Gallagher Prem leaders Northampton Saints on Saturday (KO 5.30pm, live on TNT Sports).
England stars Tom Curry, Raffi Quirke, George Ford and Joe Carpenter are among those back in blue this weekend as Sharks look to sign off ahead of the Six Nations with a win to get their top four push back on track.
Arron Reed features as a replacement after recovering from a knee injury.
Alex has gone for an unchanged front row for the third consecutive game with Bevan Rodd packing down alongside Nathan Jibulu and James Harper.
In the second row, skipper Ernst van Rhyn is reunited with Ben Bamber, while only Sam Dugdale remains from the back row that faced Toulouse, with Jacques Vermeulen and Tom Curry returning.
Raffi Quirke has recovered from his knee injury to start at scrum-half with George Ford outside him at fly-half.
Rekeiti Ma’asi-White is back in his favourite 12 shirt to resume his partnership with Rob du Preez in the centres, while in the back three, Alex Wills starts with Tom O’Flaherty and Joe Carpenter.
Ethan Caine is once again the replacement hooker and he’s joined on the bench by props Si McIntyre and Patreece Bell. Tom Burrow and Jos Gilmore make up the rest of the forwards on the bench.
Gus Warr, Marius Louw and Scotland winger Reed are the backs replacements.
Starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom O’Flaherty, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Alex Wills, 10. George Ford, 9. Raffi Quirke; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Nathan Jibulu, 3. James Harper, 4. Ernst van Rhyn, 5. Ban Bamber, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Tom Curry.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. Patreece Bell, 19. Tom Burrow, 20. Jos Gilmore, 21. Gus Warr, 22. Marius Louw, 23. Arron Reed.
