A handful of changes have been made to the Vodacom Bulls Under-20 side that will take on their Cell C Sharks counterparts in an SA Rugby Under-20 Cup match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The two sides will square up against each other at 13h30 in a curtain-raiser to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship match between the Vodacom Bulls and Munster Rugby.

The Tshwane-based side will look to bounce back after a narrow 30-29 defeat to DHL Western Province Under-20’s in Cape Town last week.

Vodacom Bulls u20 head coach, Wessel du Plessis, has made five changes to the starting XV for this weekend – two in the backline and three in the forwards pack.

The side will run onto the field with a new-look half-back pairing as scrumhalf, Neil le Roux, and flyhalf, Tiaan Fourie, earn starting berths.

Corne Lavagna will start at loosehead prop while lock, Marco de Witt and flanker Willie Potgieter have also been added to the starting XV.

“We have another tough match this weekend against a talented Cell C Sharks side,” Du Plessis said ahead of the game.

“After the disappointment of the narrow defeat last week, we have worked hard on improving certain areas this week. We hope that all of the hard work we’ve put in will come together on Saturday. We will need to be at our best because we know that the Cell C Sharks will, as they always do, throw everything at us.”

The Vodacom Bulls U20 team to face Cell C Sharks u20 is:

STARTERS (15-1): Franco Knoetze, Quewin Nortje, Sonwabo Sokoyi (V-C), Carlton Banies, Katlego Letebele, Tiaan Fourie, Neil le Roux; Cameron Hanekom, Eric Basson (CAPT), Willie Potgieter, Marco de Witt, Merwe Olivier, Sebastian Lombaard, Tiaan Lange, Corne Lavagna.

IMPACT (16-23): Johan Lombard, Juann Else, Tielman Nieuwoudt, Neels Volschenk, Abulele Ndabambi, Rowan Cloete, Moemagare Mothlodi, Gert Steyn.