Departures and injuries have seen exciting Blues attacker return to the wing
Rene Ranger started the Blues' opening game on the right wing but has not been seen in that role since, not until this weekend when he slips on that jersey once more against the Cheetahs.
The 23-year-old has been one of the side's improvers this season, an exciting attacker whose range of talents at centre or wing has some thinking he might progress further than his Junior All Black selection last season.
When Sitiveni Sivivatu's season ended in injury yesterday, Joe Rokocoko's odds shortened on taking his test place on the left flank. If Ranger catches fire this weekend, he will claim further question time around the international selection table.
It has been a long slog for the Blues from Albany to Bloemfontein, a troubled trip where their inconsistency has been the most reliable part of their framework.
Fatherhood and injuries have bitten into the backline with departures for Rudi Wulf and Luke McAlister forcing all sorts of selection roulette, with Paul Williams starting at fullback and Isaia Toeava pushing up to his original centre role.
Blindside flanker Jerome Kaino will captain the side for the first time with regular skipper Keven Mealamu still troubled by a calf strain and at best destined for a place in the reserves. Tom McCartney will make his first start this season at hooker while lock Anthony Boric has joined the side but has only made the bench.
There are loose forward switches, with Tom Chamberlain in again to replace Serge Lilo for the scavenging battle against the Cheetahs captain Juan Smith and breakaway partner Hendro Scholtz, while Viliame Ma'afu returns to full fitness at No 8.
"The Cheetahs will be pleased with what they did against the Chiefs and they will be dangerous at home," coach Pat Lam said.
Openside flankers Tanerau Latimer and Daniel Braid have recommitted themselves to rugby in New Zealand with Latimer signing on until the end of 2012 and Braid until the end of next year's World Cup.
Braid has played four tests since 2003, and Latimer has played one more international since his introduction to the test squad last season.
Braid has played for the Reds in two campaigns but is returning to Auckland for the national championship where his tussle with Latimer and others will be intriguing if the All Blacks decide on two specialist opensiders on the end-of-year tour.
"There are no guarantees," Braid said. "I'm taking this opportunity because it is a once-in-a-lifetime chance with a World Cup in your own country."
Bloemfontein, 1am Sunday
CHEETAHS
Hennie Daniller
Bjorn Basson
Corne Uys
Meyer Bosman
Jongi Nokwe
Naas Olivier
Sarel Pretorius
Frans Viljoen
Juan Smith (c)
Hendro Scholtz
Barend Pieterse
I Westhuizen
WP Nel
Ryno Barnes
Wian du Preez
BLUES
Paul Williams
Rene Ranger
Isaia Toeava
Benson Stanley
Joe Rokocoko
Stephen Brett
Alby Mathewson
Viliami Ma'afu
Tom Chamberlain
Jerome Kaino (c)
Filo Paulo
Kurtis Haiu
John Afoa
Tom McCartney
Tony Woodcock
RESERVES
Cheetahs: S Badenhorst, C Oosthuizen, W Vermeulen, P van der Walt, T de Bruyn, R Viljoen, R Ebersohn.
Blues: T Mailau/ K Mealamu, C Faumuina, A Boric, P Saili, C Smylie, D Kirkpatrick, A Tuitavake.
