Top class 50 for Leonard

Bulls veteran Anton Leonard will win his 50th Super rugby cap for the Bulls when he starts this Saturday's match against the Highlanders.

The Bulls have made four changes to the side that lost to the Crusaders.

While there was the expected return of Victor Matfield to the captaincy and starts for tighthead Rayno Gerber and centre Frikkie Welsh, Leonard's elevation from the bench has confirmed that the Bulls are looking ahead to a physical confrontation against the Highlanders at Carisbrook's "House of Pain".

The veteran Leonard comes in the place of Pedrie Wannenburg in a straight swap at the side of the scrum.

Gerber is in for Danie Thiart as the Bulls try to fix their troublesome scrums, while Welsh brings experience and a strong physical presence to the backline at the expense of young Marius Delport. Welsh's tactical kicking could also prove crucial to the outcome of the game.

Coach Heyneke Meyer said that Springbok loose-forward Pierre Spies is set to be out for another two to three weeks, thereby scuppering thoughts of him flying in on the weekend to perhaps get a start next weekend against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

- Vodacom Cup Blue Bulls captain Dries Scholtz has escaped further punishment after his red card in last Saturday's 25-24 win over the Pumas. The disciplinary tribunal decided that no further action was necessary against Scholtz, after it was disputed that he had punched an opposition player, the reason for a second yellow card on the day.

Bulls:

Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Akona Ndungane, Frikkie Welsh, Wayne Julies, Bryan Habana; Derick Hougaard, Fourie du Preez; Anton Leonard, Wikus van Heerden, Danie Rossouw, Victor Matfield (captain), Bakkies Botha, Rayno Gerber, Gary Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp.

Reserves: Jaco Engels, Danie Thiart, Derick Kuun, Pedrie Wannenburg, Heini Adams, Morne Steyn, Marius Delport.