No Os in Final - but he has packed his boots

Cheetahs coach Rassie Erasmus on Thursday named his team to face the three-time defending champion Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup Final at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, with the one glaring omission being the name of veteran Springbok prop Os du Randt.

But there was a rider!

Du Randt will travel with the team to Pretoria and may still play a role.

Erasmus said on Thursday that if it rains - with the long term weather forecasts suggesting a possible Highveld spring downpour - then Du Randt will play, either off the bench or in the starting XV.

The starting XV shows three changes from that which beat Western Province in the semi-final last week.

Eddie Fredericks has recovered from his injury and takes the place of Phillip Burger on the right wing. Burger drops down to the bench and Alwyn Hollenbach (who was on the bench last week) comes into the starting XV on the left wing in place of Sinethemba Zweni, who drops out of the match-day 22 altogether.

The only other change is at lock, where Corniel van Zyl comes into the starting XV in place of Boela du Plooy - who had his jaw broken by a punch from Ross Skeate in the semi-final.

Darron Nel, predominantly a flank, will cover the lock position on the bench.

Cheetahs: 15 Bevin Fortuin, 14 Eddie Fredericks, 13 Chris Kruger, 12 Barry Goodes, 11 Alwyn Hollenbach, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Ryno van der Merwe, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 Corniel van Zyl, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Naka Drotskè (captain), 1 Wian du Preez
Replacements: 16 Ollie le Roux, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Darron Nel, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Falie Oelschig, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Phillip Burger

Kick-off: 16.30 (14.30 GMT)

By Hannes Nienaber