Gaffie du Toit, who has been struggling with injury for some time, is hoping to get a run - probably off the bench - when the Natal Sharks take on the Boland Kavaliers in a Currie Cup match at the Absa Stadium in Durban Saturday evening.

The rangy flyhalf/fullback was included in the squad of 22 released by coach Rudolf Straeuli pn Tuesday for a match the Sharks hope will bring them another preliminary round victory after a two
weeks layoff.

Should they win the Kavaliers hopes of a Top Eight berth will almost certainly disappear after two defeats and a draw thus far.

But while Du Toit is back flanker Warren Britz is not. He is still suffering from the injury he sustained against the Griffons in Welkom a week ago but such is the strength of loose forwards in the Natal camp at present there is adequate cover available.

In an interesting development the Sharks will have their third-string hooker in the probable starting line-up as both Lukas van Biljon and John Smit are away with the Springboks in Australia.

Hanyani Shimange should start with Chris Pearson, back from injury, as his backup. Also new is wing Anton Pitout, from the under-21 and Wildebeest
ranks, who could earn his first full Sharks cap while another exciting under-21 centre Gavin Hume could well earn a call up off the bench if everything goes according to plan.

With Andre Snyman recalled to Harry Viljoen's national team the centre pairing could see Trevor Halstead, still waiting for international recognition, pairing up with Stefan Terblanche whose move from the wing will allow Rodger Smith back into the reckoning.

Craig Davidson and Herkie Kruger will probably start off as the halfback pair with Dave van Hoesllin as the extra scrumhalf ahead of the injured Hentie Martens who broke his hand in a club game a couple of weeks back. Justin Swart is the most likely man to start the game at fullback.

Charl van Rensburg will lead the side again as he did against the Griffons in the absence of Mark Andrews who along with regular lock Albert van den Berg is in Australia this weekend. AJ Venter and Philip Smit will link up as the likely engine room pairing for the Sharks.

Prop Etienne Fynn, discarded by Viljoen, returns to a Sharks squad that also includes recognised performers in Warren Brosnihan, Deon Carstens, Eduard Coetzee, Rob Linde, Brad MacLeod-Henderson
and Shaun Sowerby in a powerful looking group in spite of the loss of their Springboks for this game.

The Kavaliers come to Absa Stadium with a reputation of big and strong and quite capable of causing a Currie Cup upset on their day. Centre Wayne Julies is a man to be watched.

Flanker and captain Jannie Coetzee is a tough competitor and wing Jan Ackermann is no slouch when it comes to scoring tries.

Sharks squad: Backs: Craig Davidson, Gaffie du Toit, Trevor Halstead, Gavin Hume, Herkie Kruger, Anton Pitout, Rodger Smith, Justin Swart, Stefan Terblanche, Dave von Hoesslin. Forwards: Warren Brosnihan, Deon Carstens, Eduard Coetzee, Etienne Fynn, Rob Linde, Brad Macleod-Henderson, Chris Pearson, Hanyani Shimange, Philip Smit, Shaun Sowerby, Charl van Rensburg, AJ Venter. - Sapa