Schickerling hits half-century as Stormers chase Champions Cup knockouts

The imposing second rower will join the likes of Salmaan Moerat, Warrick Gelant, Joseph Dweba, Andre-Hugo Venter and Willie Engelbrecht in bringing up his half-century for the Cape Town outfit this season when he leads the team out to face the English Premiership team at 15h00 on Saturday.

In the backline, winger Ben Loader makes his return from injury in place of Seabelo Senatla who has been ruled out with a hamstring niggle, while Stefan Ungerer starts at scrumhalf. Jonathan Roche will make his first Stormers start in an all-new midfield pairing with Wandisile Simelane, with Ruhan Nel sidelined with a minor rib injury.

Up front, prop Sti Sithole is also back from injury and starts alongside hooker JJ Kotze, with Dave Ewers at blindside flank in the only other change to the forward pack.

Fit-again loose forward Evan Roos is included on a bench which also features the likes of Venter, Ali Vermaak and lock Ruben van Heerden.

Director of Rugby John Dobson said that his team would like to build on their wins in the URC festive derbies and carry some momentum into the new year. The Stormers must win on Saturday to have any chance of advancing in the European competition.

"We saw some good progress in the two derbies, with the incredible home support making a huge difference.

"We know that this game is a must-win for us to have a chance of making the knock-out phase of the Champions Cup, so we will be giving it everything we have.

"It is fantastic to welcome back the likes of Ben Loader, Sti Sithole and Evan Roos and hopefully they will all make a big impression in what should be a tough game against a physical Sale Sharks side," he said.

Stormers - 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Dave Ewers, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Sti Sithole.

Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis.

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