28 April 2011 2:22 p.m

VENUE & TIME: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, Saturday April 30, 3.10am (AEST).

HEAD TO HEAD: Played 6 – Brumbies 5, Cheetahs 1.

LAST TIME: April 10, 2010 (Canberra) – Brumbies 61-15 Cheetahs (Round 9).

WALKING WOUNDED:
The Cheetahs have received a major boost with star flanker Heinrich Brussow set to return from injury as one of three changes to the side. Hooker Adriaan Strauss is also back in the starting XV while inside-centre Corne Uys replaces Barry Geel who was ruled out with a fractured finger.

Departing Brumbies coach Tony Rea has made several changes to the side that lost to the Force before the bye. Starting hooker Stephen Moore and his deputy Huia Edmonds both return from injuries along with blindside flanker Mitchell Chapman. Peter Kimlin shifts to lock to accommodate Chapman while youngster Colby Faingaa will start at No.8. In the backs, Matt Giteau swaps positions with Christian Lealiifano who will partner new scrumhalf Pat Phibbs in the halves. Pat McCabe will start at full-back while Adam Ashley-Cooper returns to the starting side on the wing.

FORM:
Cheetahs Past Five:
Week 10: Bye
Week 9: Loss, 50-47 v Hurricanes, Bloemfontein
Week 8: Loss, 24-21 v Highlanders, Dunedin
Week 7: Loss, 29-22 v Blues, Auckland
Week 6: Loss, 41-8 v Reds, Brisbane

Brumbies Past Five:
Week 10: Bye
Week 9: Loss, 27-19 v Force, Canberra
Week 8: Win, 17-16 v Hurricanes, Canberra
Week 7: Loss, 26-20 v Highlanders, Dunedin
Week 6: Loss, 29-22 v Waratahs, Canberra

The Cheetahs are running second last on the Super Rugby ladder having managed one victory from their opening nine games - but they are actually a better side than their record shows. Six of their eight losses this season have been by seven points or less, including three-point defeats against the Hurricanes and Highlanders before the bye. Their strength lies in their forward pack but they showed they are also capable of piling on the points in their 50-47 loss to the Hurricanes.

The Brumbies dominated large chunks of their last-up loss to the Force but a string of basic errors at critical moments saw them suffer their sixth loss in seven matches. The effort is there but they appear rudderless in attack with Matt Giteau attempting to guide them around the park. Tony Rea's men are currently 10th on the overall ladder and third in the Australian conference on 21 points, just two clear of the bottom-placed Rebels.

WHO'S HOT:
Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Brussow has been hampered by injury again this season but is in the same class as Richie McCaw and David Pocock when it comes to openside flankers and must be watched this weekend.

Brumbies young-gun Christian Lealiifano showed glimpses of what he can do against the Force and will ask serious questions of the Cheetahs defence in his preferred position at five-eighth.


TEAMS:
Cheetahs: 15. Riaan Viljoen, 14. Philip Burger, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Corne Uys, 11. Riaan Smit, 10. Sias Ebersohn, 9. Sarel Pretorius, 8. Ashley Johnson, 7. Davon Raubenheimer, 6. Heinrich Brussow, 5. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4. Francois Uys, 3. WP Nel, 2. Adriaan Strauss (c), 1. Coenie Oosthuizen.
Reserves: 16. Ryno Barnes, 17. Lourens Adriaanse, 18. Martin Muller, 19. Frans Viljoen, 20. Tewis de Bruyn, 21. Naas Olivier, 22. Hennie Daniller.

Brumbies: 15. Pat McCabe, 14. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13. Andrew Smith, 12. Matt Giteau, 11. Francis Fainifo, 10. Christian Lealiifano (c), 9. Pat Phibbs, 8, Colby Faingaa, 7. Michael Hooper, 6. Mitchell Chapman, 5. Mark Chisholm, 4. Peter Kimlin, 3. Dan Palmer, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Ben Alexander.
Reserves: 16. Huia Edmonds, 17. Jono Owen, 18. Ben Hand, 19. Julian Salvi, 20. Josh Valentine, 21. Tyrone Smith, 22. Robbie Coleman.
REFEREE: Marius Jonker