The Sharks team to play the Cats in a vital Super 12 clash on Saturday has received a timely infusion of tungsten steel in the form of seasoned campaigners Mark Andrews and Wayne Fyvie.

The Natal stalwarts have shaken off injuries to provide both a muscular presence and wise heads in what will be a Cup final atmosphere at the Absa Stadium. The Sharks have been lean on experience this season and the return of team captain Fyvie and Andrews, the most-capped Springbok, will steady a ship that has often veered off course when the Super 12 seas have got rough.

Andrews will be starting his first game of the season after injuring knee ligaments in pre-season training session and Fyvie is over a knee injury sustained against New South Wales during the Sharks's final tour game last month. Andrews had originally expected his comeback to be limited to a second-half appearance, but coach Hugh Reece-Edwards wants Andrews's intimidatory presence to be felt from the first whistle.

The inclusion of Fyvie is a tough call on in-form Warren Brosnihan, who makes way for the returning captain. "It is most unfortunate for Warren," said coach Hugh Reece-Edwards. "He has been outstanding in every game this season. It was not an easy decision but in the end we felt we needed Wayne's captaincy.

"It is an incredibly important match for both teams. The loser will have virtually no chance of making the semifinals so we want to have the strongest possible leadership in what is going to be a very tense struggle."

In other changes, World Cup wing Deon Kayser returns to the starting line-up after making a second-half appearance against the Bulls last week following a month out with a jaw injury. It will not be lost on the political analysts that with the inclusion of Rodger Smith on the other wing, the Sharks have for the first time voluntarily included two black players in their starting line-up.

The Sharks are only obliged to include one black player according to the gentleman's agreement between Sarfu and the 14 provincial presidents. "Smith and Kayser are merit selections," said Reece-Edwards. "We have left out Justin Swart because he has not been on top of his game and Stephen Brink has a serious hamstring injury.

"Kayser and Smith both looked for work against the Bulls and have played their way into the team. Justin was not on song when he played fullback on tour and when we moved him to wing last week he still seemed a little out of sorts."

In the other change in the backline, Pieter "Hitman" Muller returns to the midfield in place of Joe Gillingham. "Pieter was fit to return last week after a back injury, but Joe had played so well against the Waratahs that we felt he deserved another go against the Bulls. It also gave Pieter an extra week to make sure his back has fully recovered. But now we need Pieter's vast experience and tough defence, especially with the likes of the dangerous Japie Mulder in the Cats backline."

In the final change to the team that drew last week with the Bulls, hooker Mornay Visser starts his first game. Visser's long-standing rival, Chris Rossouw, injured a shoulder against the Bulls last week and Visser has now been provided with an opportunity to state his case after persistent talk that young prop John Smit is to be groomed as Rossouw's successor. Smit remains on the bench to provide cover for the props and Eastern Province hooker Vorster Venter has been called up as cover for Visser.

Sharks team: Gaffie du Toit; Deon Kayser, Stefan Terblanche, Pieter Muller, Rodger Smith; Clinton van Rensburg, Craig Davidson; AJ Venter, Wayne Fyvie (capt), Charl van Rensburg, Mark Andrews, Albert van den Berg, Baksteen Nel, Mornay Visser, Ollie le Roux. Substitutes still to be finalised.