Tim Swiel back for Pumas

New Currie Cup coach Mike Vowles has selected world traveler Tim Swiel at 10 next to Ross Braude. Marnus Potgieter is the other old hand on the back line. Kerron van Vuuren also makes a return to Durban to anchor the front row. Thomas Dyer will captain the team for 8.

Playing the settled Pumas (SA Cup champions) away is a tough ask for the first game of the season. Hopefully the Sharks can be competitive in the game and start building cohesion on attack and defense.

15 Chijindu Okontu, 14 Christie Grobbelaar, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Janco Purchase, 11 Lyle Matthews, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Thomas Dyer (c), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Willem van den Hever, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Johan Momsen, 3 Simphiwe Ngobese, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Bench: 16 Jacques Marais, 17 Jaco du Toit, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Sipho Nonyalela, 20 Hanu Pieterse, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Chris Horak, 23 Matthew Fortuin.