The Sharks are still missing some of their Springbok back players, but have nontheless named an impressive team to face the Western Province for the Newlands clash on Saturday.
No less than seven Springboks still feature in the match-day 22, with the forward pack especially laden with experienced personnel.
In the backline, Rory Kockott, Odwa Ndungane, Riaan Swanepoel, Andries Strauss and Stefan Terblanche are also no strangers to the Sharks jersey and will have a big job in keeping the impressive Western Province backs at bay.
It will be a baptism of fire, though, for flyhalf Guy Cronje who was battling with a hip injury earlier this week, but has been named to start in the crucial pivot position.
Sharks coach John Plumtree said he knew it was going to be a tough encounter first up but expressed confidence they could pull through if they stuck to their guns.