There are a number of changes to the DHL Western Province team to face the Toyota Free State XV in their SuperSport Rugby Challenge encounter in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

DHL Western Province will be looking to make it six consecutive wins this season when they face the Free State side on neutral ground at the Wolfson Stadium, with kick-off at 12h30 on Sunday.

There are three changes to the backline, with David Brits coming into the midfield, EW Viljoen shifting to inside centre and left wing Edwill van der Merwe back this week.

There is an all-new loose trio with Chris Massyn moving to No.8 and Nama Xaba and Ben-Jason Dixon on the flanks. The lock pairing of Jordan Sesink-Clee and Brandon Valentyn is also a new combination.

In the front row tighthead prop Neethling Fouche comes in, with Michael Kumbirai on the replacements bench along with Brendon Esterhuizen and fit-again backs Paul de Wet and Tristan Leyds.

DHL Western Province Head Coach Jerome Paarwater said that discipline and patience will be key for his team at Wolfson Stadium on Sunday.

“We have a few new combinations and we are excited to see how they go, but it will be important for us to remain composed.

“If we keep our discipline then we will hopefully be able to impose our gameplan on the opposition on Sunday,” he said.

DHL Western Province: 15 Craig Barry (captain), 14 Nico Leonard, 13 David Brits, 12 EW Viljoen, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Abner van Reenen, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Chris Massyn, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Jordan Sesink-Clee, 4 Brandon Valentyn, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Kwenzo Blose.
Replacements: 16 Chadley Wenn, 17 Michael Kumbirai, 18 Curtly Thomas, 19 Brendon Esterhuizen, 20 Paul de Wet, 21 Cornel Smit, 22 Tristan Leyds.