Cheetahs coach Frans Steyn has made several changes for Friday’s Currie Cup match against the Pumas in Bloemfontein.

The Free Staters opened their campaign with a 37-35 loss to Boland in Wellington and will be looking to bounce back at home.

Vernon Paulo starts at hooker, while Pierre Raymond Uys replaces the injured Pieter Janse van Vuren in the second row. Sasko Ndlovu will make his Cheetahs debut at openside flank.

In the backline, Smiley Nel comes in at scrumhalf with Rewan Kruger moving to the bench, Carel-Jan Coetzee replaces Ali Mgijima at inside centre, and James Verity-Amm starts at fullback, with Cohen Jasper shifting to the left wing.

Chucky van der Westhuizen, Hencus van Wyk, Aranos Coetzee and Franco Smith are new additions to the bench.

Meanwhile, loosehead prop Cameron Dawson will earn his 50th cap for the Cheetahs.

PREVIEW: Bulls, Sharks headline big Currie Cup weekend

CHEETAHS – 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Banie Britz, 13 Marko Jansen van Vuren, 12 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Jandre Nel, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Gideon van der Merwe, 6 Sasko Ndlovu, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Pierre Raymond Uys, 3 Frankie dos Reis, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Bench: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Franco Smith, 23 Clayton Blommetjies.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images