South Africa have recalled two backs axed for poor performances to face title winners New Zealand Saturday in the Rugby Championship.
Inside centre Damian de Allende and scrum-half Faf de Klerk return to a team showing two injury-enforced personnel changes from that which beat Australia in Pretoria last weekend.
They replace unavailable Jesse Kriel (groin) and Rudy Paige (concussion), who retired injured during the Test against the Wallabies.
Springboks coach Allister Coetzee has also made two positional switches for the match against the All Blacks at Kings Park stadium in Indian Ocean city Durban.
Bryan Habana and Francois Hougaard change wings with the former now on the left while Juan de Jongh moves from inside to outside centre to accommodate De Allende.
A big success in the national team last year, De Allende is fortunate to earn a recall after a string of poor displays this season against Ireland and in the Rugby Championship.
De Klerk began this season impressively, being instrumental in the series-winning victory over Ireland, but flopped during away losses to Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.
Coetzee was, nevertheless, upbeat about the alterations as South Africa seek to avenge a 41-13 thrashing from New Zealand in Christchurch last month..
“Damian should slot in well next to Juan in midfield as they play together for the Western Stormers Super Rugby franchise,” he said.
“Unfortunately for Rudy, he will not have completed his gradual-return-to-play protocol by this weekend, which gives Faf another opportunity.”
New Zealand won the five-year Championship a fourth time last month after four consecutive bonus-point victories.
South Africa (10 points), 2015 champions Australia (nine) and Argentina (five) are contesting second spot.
South Africa (15-1)
Patrick Lambie; Francois Hougaard, Juan de Jongh, Damian de Allende, Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Faf de Klerk; Warren Whiteley, Oupa Mohoje, Francois Louw; Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth; Vincent Koch, Adriaan Strauss (capt), Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Julian Redelinghuys, Lood de Jager, Willem Alberts, Jaco Kriel, Lionel Mapoe, Willie le Roux
Coach: Allister Coetzee
