The Leopards will weather the Cheetahs storm on Friday night without their star centre Deon van Rensburg, the most experienced member of their squad.

Van Rensburg injured a hamstring and his place in the side will be taken by Basil de Doncker.

Van Rensburg was the Leopards' main export in the Super 14, having donned the green and red Leopards jersey 86 times. In additon, he played seven games for the Lions, one match for the Royal XV and one for the Emerging Boks.

His defence has let him and the team down in recent games, but the Leopards will undoubtedly miss him.

The versatile Jean Tiedt is still ill and his place on the bench goes to Chris Erasmus with Cecil Dumont also on the bench. The Cheetahs will be without centre Corné Uys and lock David de Villiers, who both withdrew with ‘flu.

JW Jonker takes Uys' place in the midfield and Isak van der Westhuizen comes in for De Villiers, with Nico Breedt moving to the middle of the lineout.

The Under 21 lock Waltie Vermeulen will be on the bench after playing in the curtain raiser.