Sharks bring Lukhanyo Am straight into starting line-up for Ulster meeting

Sharks coach Sean Everitt has not hesitated to install Lukhanyo Am back into his starting XV for their encounter against Ulster in Belfast on Friday.

Am recently returned from him sojourn in Japan and will form a centre-pairing with Marius Louw.

Thomas du Toit will continue as captain, with Siya Kolisi deputising.

The team sees three changes from the team that played Connacht in Durban.

There is a new lock pairing of Ruben van Heerden and Reniel Hugo, who come in for Le Roux Roets and Gerbrandt Grobler respectively.

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"We're currently sitting on top of the South African Shield and third on the log, so there is everything to play for," Everitt explained.

"We know what a huge challenge it is to go to Belfast to play at Kingspan, but we do believe we have the ability and the players, as well as the coaching team to go over there and do the job."It would be really good for us if we were able to come home and play in front of our fans at Kings Park in a quarter and semi-final."

The game on Friday gets underway at 20:35 (SA time).

15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit (captain), 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Substitues: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Jeandre Labuschagne, 21 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Boeta Chamberlain