Lukhanyo Am and Aphelele Fassi also return to the starting XV while Grant Williams plays from the bench.
Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will lead the Sharks in his first game back from a long injury layoff, when they take on Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship (URC) on Friday (kick-off 8.35pm).
It has been six months since head coach John Plumtree was able to select his strongest possible side and that is a big plus for the team who also welcome back Lukhanyo Am and Aphelele Fassi to the starting line-up.
Springbok scrumhalf Grant Williams will play from the bench.
Etzebeth faces big challenge in Edinburgh
“The squad is back to full strength for the first time since the game against Glasgow which is good, that was a long time ago, and hopefully we will keep all the bodies nice and healthy in the build-up to the finals,” explained Plumtree on the eve of the match.
“We’ve had good preparation, although we haven’t played for a couple of weeks, and we just want to have a good tour, try and set ourselves up for a home quarter-final and potentially a home semi-final if we win our next four games. But for now, our focus is to do well on this tour.”
But Edinburgh are in good form having knocked two South African teams out of the Challenge Cup over the last two weeks. They beat the Lions 24–12 in the round of 16 and then they pipped the Bulls 34–28, in the quarter-finals, both at the Hive Stadium.
Plumtree added he knows it will be a tough game against a strong Scottish side full of confidence.
“Winning URC games away from home isn’t easy and it certainly hasn’t been easy for us as a team in the past, so it would be great if we have a good performance against Edinburgh.”
Sharks starting XV: Aphelele Fassi, Ethan Hooker, Lukhanyo Am, André Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse, Siya Kolisi, Vincent Tshituka, Phepsi Buthelezi, Emile van Heerden, Eben Etzebeth (c), Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche
Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Hanro Jacobs, Jason Jenkins, James Venter, Grant Williams, Siya Masuku, Jurenzo Julius
