Siya Kolisi will lead the Sharks once again in the absence of Eben Etzebeth when the Durbanites tackle Toulouse on Saturday in the Investec Champions Cup.
The Sharks have welcomed the return of Springboks hooker Bongi Mbonambi but lock Etzebeth failed a fitness test to feature in the clash as he awaits his first outing of 2025.
Meanwhile, Toulouse are at near full-strength this weekend with Antoine Dupont skippering the side from scrum-half.
Sharks without key Springboks
Etzebeth is not the only Springboks star that is unavailable to the Sharks this weekend, with Andre Esterhuizen and Aphelele Fassi both sidelined with the injuries that they sustained against the Stormers last month.
Grant Williams also misses the heavyweight clash due to a family bereavement, while Lukhanyo Am is still unavailable with his injury.
Hakeem Kunene gets another start at full-back in the Champions Cup in the absence of Fassi as he joins Yaw Penxe and Makazole Mapimpi in the back-three.
With Esterhuizen and Am out, Francois Venter and Ethan Hooker start in the centres with livewire rising star Jurenzo Julius included on the bench. Brothers Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse feature at nine and ten, respectively.
Meanwhile, Kolisi packs down at number eight once again with Manu Tshituka and Phepsi Buthelezi on the side of the scrum. Jason Jenkins and Corne Rahl start in the second-row behind an-all Springbok front-row in the form of tighthead Vincent Koch, hooker Bongi Mbonambi and loosehead Ox Nche.
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Test-laden Toulouse
France back-rower Alexandre Roumat and star centre Pita Ahki are notable absentees for Toulouse who are otherwise at full-strength this weekend after resting many of their stars in their defeat to La Rochelle in the Top 14.
Sharpshooter Thomas Ramos starts at full-back in what is a lethal back-three along with wingers Matthis Lebel and Blair Kinghorn.
Los Pumas centre Santiago Chocobares partners Pierre-Louis Barassi in the midfield with Dupont joined by Romain Ntamack in the half-backs.
England international Jack Willis packs down at number eight in Roumat’s absence with Anthony Jelonch and Francois Cros the starting flankers.
Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament make up an imposing second-row with tighthead Dorian Aldegheri, hooker Peato Mauvaka and loosehead Rodrigue Neti.
Toulouse have further international stars on their bench in the form of Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille, Juan Cruz Mallia and Ange Capuozzo.
Sharks v Toulouse teams
Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Lappies Labuschagne, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Bradley Davids, 23 Jurenzo Julius
Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Blair Kinghorn, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Jack Willis, 7 Anthony Jelonch, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Rodrigue Neti
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Joel Merkler, 19 Joshua Brennan, 20 Leo Banos, 21 Paul Graou, 22 Juan Cruz Mallia, 23 Ange Capuozzo
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park
Kick-off: 17:15 local (15:15 GMT)
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
Assistant Referees: Adam Leal (Eng), Hamish Grant (Eng)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (Eng)
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/siya-kolisi-captains-eben-etzebeth-less-sharks-as-antoine-dupont-skippers-star-studded-toulouse
