Victory over a depleted Benetton Treviso outfit has become “non-negotiable” for the struggling Isuzu Southern Kings as they bid to jump-start their misfiring season, Kings head coach Deon Davids said.
Neither team have set the Guinness PRO14 season alight, and fans can expect a dogfight for vital log points at the Madibaz Stadium on Saturday.
While the Kings are bottom of Conference B with 11 points from nine outings, Benetton have fared marginally better with 18 points from the same number of games.
“This is our last game before the break and we will have to work hard to ensure we get that result. Getting a result against Benetton is a non-negotiable,” Davids said.
The Kings coach is under pressure to deliver a victory against a Benetton side who lost narrowly to the Cheetahs in the first game of their South African tour.
The Italians are missing 15 international players who played four Tests for Italy in the recently completed European autumn Test series.
Benneton coach Kieran Crowley is expecting a tough duel for the points on offer.
“The Kings will be desperate for a result at home,” he said.
“It will be interesting to see how our boys react. This is the first time for them being in the team with so many players back in Italy.
“The Kings game will be an interesting one for us around our development perspective and the culture of the club.”
Hooker Kerron van Vuuren will make his debut for a Kings team that shows seven changes to the starting lineup and three positional switches.
After hooker Alandre van Rooyen sustained a concussion in the match against Connacht, Van Vuuren (on loan from the Sharks) will win his first cap.
Prop Pieter Scholtz will also return from a shoulder injury in the No 3 jersey.
Powerful Nicolaas Oosthuizen switches from tighthead prop to loosehead.
Martinus Burger will also make a return to the starting XV and he replaces Jurie van Vuuren in a rotational switch.
Four changes in the backline will see the return of Michael Botha at fullback, while Bjorn Basson gets a start at left wing, where he replaces Michael Makase.
Yaw Penxe moves from left wing to the right side.
Masixole Banda, who has played previous matches for the Kings at fullback, moves to flyhalf in the place of Martin du Toit, who sustained a knee injury against Connacht.
The Kings will start with the new centre pairing of Tertius Kruger at inside centre and Meli Rokoua at the outside berth.
This change comes about because Berton Klaasen sustained a leg injury which has kept him out of contention this week, while Harlon Klaasen is on the bench.
Ulrich Beyers will provide utility cover for the backline from the bench.
Teams:
Southern Kings: (Nos 15 to 9): Michael Botha, Yaw Penxe, Meli Rokoua, Tertius Kruger, Bjorn Basson, Masixole Banda, Stefan Ungerer. (Nos 1 to 8): Nicolaas Oosthuizen, Kerron van Vuuren, Pieter Scholtz, Stephan Greeff, J C Astle (capt), C J Velleman, Martinus Burger, Ruaan Lerm. Replacements: (Nos 16 to 23): Tango Balekile, Alulutho Tshakwe, Luvuyo Pupuma, Schalk Oelofse, Andries van Schalkwyk, Godlen Masiml, Ulrich Beyers, Harlon Klaasen.
Benetton Treviso: (Nos 15 to 9): Angelo Esposito, Ratuva Tavuyara, Tommaso Iannone, Marco Zanon, Monty Ioane, Ian McKinley, Dewaldt Duvenage. (Nos 8 to 1): Marco Barbini (capt), Michele Lamaro, Giovanni Pettinelli, Federico Ruzza, Irné Herbst, Marco Riccioni, Hame Faiva, Nicola Quaglio. Replacements: (Nos 16 to 23): 16 Engjel Makelara, Alberto De Marchi, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Niccolò Cannone, Marco Lazzaroni, Giorgio Bronzini, Antonio Rizzi, Alberto Sgarbi.
Referee: Sean Gallagher (Ireland).
The match will be live on SS1 at 7.15pm.