Overview
- The Sharks confirmed a largely unchanged starting XV for the United Rugby Championship home match in Durban at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
- Coach JP Pietersen kept the same pack that beat Munster and made two backline tweaks as Bradley Davids replaces injured Grant Williams at scrumhalf and Ethan Hooker returns to partner captain Andre Esterhuizen in midfield.
- Several Springboks remain unavailable, including suspended lock Eben Etzebeth, with local reports indicating he could return next week.
- Match officials are set as referee Gianluca Gnecchi with assistants Morne Ferreira and Jonathan Lottering and TMO Marius van der Westhuizen.
- The Sharks are pushing to close the gap to the URC top eight after five wins in 13 this season, while Cardiff sit fifth in a cross‑border league that features clubs from South Africa, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy.