The third-round encounter starts at 19h00 and will be televised live on the SuperSport Grandstand and Rugby channels.

Le Roux, formerly of Tafel Lager Griquas, replaces Simon Westraadt in the No 2 jersey in the only change to the starting line-up that downed the Peacock Blues last weekend in Kimberley.

Phakisa Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse decided to make two changes to the replacement bench for their home match against the Springbok-laden visiting team from Cape Town.

AJ le Roux in action for Tafel Lager Griquas last year.

Westraadt will take up a spot on the bench, which sees HP van Schoor missing out on a spot in the match 23 line-up, while former Southern Kings front rower Ignatius Prinsloo, a recent addition to the Mpumalanga outfit, is drafted onto the bench as cover and also set to make his debut for the Phakisa Pumas.

Eddie Fouche was superb last weekend in Kimberley where he helped to steer the Lowvelders to a 27-21 victory over the Griquas and his combination with Ginter Smuts will again be one of the key factors for Stonehouse’s team when they face the strong DHL Stormers outfit.

Phakisa Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Neil Maritz, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Wayne van der Bank, 11 Etienne Taljaard, 10 Eddie Fouche, 9 Ginter Smuts, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren (captain), 4 Darrien Landsburg, 3 Ruan Kramer, 2 AJ le Roux, 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Liam Hendricks, 18 Heath Backhouse, 19 Phumzile Maqondwana, 20 Dian Badenhorst, 21 Neil Marais, 22 Ali Mgijima, 23 Ignatius Prinsloo.

Match information – Phakisa Pumas v DHL Stormers
Date: Friday, 23 October 2020
Time: 19h00
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron, Griffin Colby
Television Match Official: AJ Jacobs
TV: SuperSport Grandstand and Rugby