Loose forward Kabamba Floors is one of eight changes to last week's Cheetahs' startline line-up to play the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.

Coach Naka Drotske said the changes were part of his policy to give all the players in the squad an opportunity on tour, and the Cheetahs were by no means waving the white flag after their fourth consecutive defeat (22-20) to the Chiefs last Saturday.

Floors is back from a neck injury to replace Duanne Vermeulen, while another former Springboks loose forward Hendro Scholtz comes in for Heinrich Brussouw.

Scholtz will assume the captaincy, with both Rory Duncan and Barend Pieterse being rested. David de Villiers and Flip van der Merwe are the new lock pairing, and the front row also sees two fresh faces in Ronnie Uys and Richardt Strauss.

There are two changes to the backline, with Tewis de Bruyn moving to halfback and Hendrik Meyer starting at second five-eighth for Meyer Bosman.

Drotske will be without his best player, Juan Smith, who is back in Bloemfontein nursing an injured knee.

The Cheetahs coaching staff weren't happy with his team's performance at the breakdown in Hamilton.

"We lost a lot possession at the breakdown last week so there's been a lot of focus on that. The Crusaders are known for their strength in the breakdown," assistant coach Hawies Fourie told South African website keo.co.za.

The Cheetahs have encountered other problems this week.

"We've had a few difficult training sessions on account of the weather," Fourie said.

"It's been extremely hard to handle the ball and prepare for what we want to do against the Crusaders."

Fourie said the Cheetahs would stick to their expansive game plan as they couldn't afford to merely try to limit the damage against a team like the Crusaders after a winless run so far in the competition.

Cheetahs team, v Crusaders in Christchurch, Saturday:

Hennie Daniller, Eddie Fredericks, JW Jonker, Hendrik Meyer, Jongi Nokwe, Conrad Barnard, Tewis de Bruyn, Kabamba Floors, Darron Nell, Hendro Scholtz (captain), David de Villiers, Flip van der Merwe, Kobus Calldo, Richardt Strauss, Ronnie Uys.

Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Wian du Preez, Barend Pieterse, Duanne Vermeulen, Tobie Botes, Falie Oelschig, Meyer Bosman.