The knee injury to Piet van Zyl, which has ruled him out of action for at least two weeks, may be a blessing in disguise for the Bulls.
A Bulls side without Van Zyl means Francois Hougaard, the first-choice scrumhalf, will return to where he has excelled - in the No9 jersey.
Van Zyl bashed his knee in the Bulls' 12-19 loss to the Waratahs last Saturday. In that game and the one before, another 20-17 defeat to the Highlanders, Hougaard stood in for injured wing Akona Ndungane and failed to have much impact.
Coach Frans Ludeke will be hoping the half-back combination of Hougaard and flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter, which has borne some fruit in previous matches, will be able to reignite the Bulls as they still search for the elusive overseas win.
The outcome of the disciplinary hearing for captain Flip van der Merwe, cited for punching Waratahs prop Paddy Ryan, is expected today.
Other changes see Ndungane and fullback Jurgen Visser return from injury.
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