The Sharks have dropped Springbok captain John Smit to the bench for their do-or-die Super Rugby clash with the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld this weekend.
Bismarck du Plessis will start in his place at hooker, while Frederic Michalak, who was outstanding at first-five when he came on for the last quarter against the Lions last weekend, will start for the first time since he returned to the Sharks from France.
The winner of the Sharks-Bulls match will qualify for the play-offs, while the loser will need other matches to go their way to progress.
