The Sharks have been bolstered by the return from injury of four Springboks that includes Eben Etzebeth for a two-game United Rugby Championship (URC) tour.
John Plumtree’s outfit travel to Scotland this week ahead of their Round 15 clash with Edinburgh, who recently secured a Challenge Cup semi-final after defeating the Bulls.
This Friday’s match at Hive Stadium will be followed by a meeting with Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium the following weekend before they head home for their URC run-in.
Four Boks back
Returning to the Sharks squad ahead of the Edinburgh fixture is Springboks quartet Etzebeth, Grant Williams, Lukhanyo Am and Aphelele Fassi, who boost their stocks.
Those key players have missed various parts of the campaign with injury but are now back in the reckoning in a huge fillip for Plumtree ahead of the URC knockout stages.
Second-row Etzebeth and full-back Fassi have been absent since December last year while scrum-half Williams and centre Am return after recent stints out with injury issues.
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The Sharks crucially currently sit in fourth place on the league table, six points ahead of Munster, while other teams are hot on their heels in the race for a home play-off game.
Gaining precious points on this tour will therefore be vital for the South African outfit and they have included 16 forwards and 12 backs for two difficult away showdowns.
The Sharks were dumped out of the Challenge Cup at the quarter-final stage by Lyon on April 6, which means all of their trophy aspirations lie solely on the URC silverware.
Sharks touring squad
Forwards: Bongi Mbonambi, Eben Etzebeth, Emile van Heerden, Ethan Bester, Fezokuhle Mbatha, Hanro Jacobs, James Venter, Jason Jenkins, Manu Tshituka, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nche, Phepsi Buthelezi, Ruan Dreyer, Siya Kolisi, Vincent Koch, Vincent Tshituka
Backs: Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Bradley Davids, Ethan Hooker, Grant Williams, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Jurenzo Julius, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Siya Masuku, Yaw Penxe
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/eben-etzebeth-one-of-four-springboks-injury-returnees-in-fully-loaded-sharks-touring-squad
