The Cell C Sharks team to take on Benetton in this pivotal Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Friday is virtually unchanged from last week’s side.

Sadly, Rohan Janse van Rensburg had to be stretchered off in the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final showdown with Toulouse last weekend and has not been cleared to play on Friday.

In his place comes Australian international Ben Tapuai, with Marnus Potgieter coming onto the bench in the only change to the matchday 23 team list.

This match is important for a number of reasons, most obvious the need to simply win. Currently, in eighth position, the Cell C Sharks must fight off a late challenge from the Italians who are one place lower on the overall log and a point behind.

With two rounds remaining – the Cell C Sharks host Munster next weekend, the team they defeated in the Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 a fortnight ago – the race for final places in the top eight has reached fever pitch and the pressure is on everyone to finish as high up as possible, or indeed, make the top eight and entry into the knock-outs.

Benetton have had a mixed bag of results, losing to the Emirates Lions in their last match, but have beaten Ulster as well, losing the other three of their previous five games this year. They will come to Durban intent on causing an upset.

Cell C Sharks
1. Ox Nche
2. Bongi Mbonambi
3. Thomas du Toit
4. Hyron Andrews
5. Gerbrandt Grobler
6. Siya Kolisi (c)
7. Vincent Tshituka
8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
9. Grant Williams
10. Curwin Bosch
11. Makazole Mapimpi
12. Ben Tapuai
13. Lukhanyo Am
14. Werner Kok
15. Boeta Chamberlain

Replacements
16. Kerron van Vuuren
17. Ntuthuko Mchunu
18. Carlu Sadie
19. Jeandre Labuschagne
20. Phepsi Buthelezi
21. Cameron Wright
22. Marnus Potgieter
23. Thaakir Abrahams

Photo by Laszlo Geczo/INPHO/Shutterstock/BackpagePix