Stormers battling flu ahead of Blues game

Lock Pieter-Steph du Toit will start in the back row when the Stormers take on the Blues at Newlands.

After missing last week's match against the Highlanders, du Toit returns to play at flanker and a fit-again openside Cobus Wiese is among the replacements after Kobus van Dyk was ruled out due to illness.

Several players and members of the Stormers management team have been struck down with a serious flu virus this week and as a result the team may change on match-day depending on how they progress.

In the backline, Dillyn Leyds moves to fullback in place of the injured SP Marais and JJ Engelbrecht starts on the wing.

Winger Seabelo Senatla could be sidelined up to six weeks with a groin injury, leading to a call-up of Craig Barry to provide cover.

25-year-old Barry recently returned to the Stormers squad after spending some time on loan with the Cheetahs and could feature against the Auckland side if he comes off the replacements bench in the Super Rugby encounter.

Captain Siya Kolisi acknowledged that this will be a tough fixture for his side.

"We have got to front up; we are still positive. This game against the Blues is our most important game and we want to deliver a good performance," he said.

"It is going to be a tough physical battle [against the Blues] so we have to be on our toes, but we are up for the challenge and looking forward to it."

STORMERS

15. Dillyn Leyds, 14. Johannes Engelbrecht, 13. EW Viljoen, 12. Damian De Allende, 11. Raymond Rhule, 10. Damian Willemse, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Nizaam Carr, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6. Siya Kolisi (C), 5. Chris van Zyl, 4. Jan de Klerk, 3. Wilco Louw, 2. Ramone Samuels, 1. Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements: 16. Dean Muir, 17. Jacobus Janse van Rensburg, 18. Carlu Sadie, 19. Salmaan Moerat, 20. Cobus Wiese, 21. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 22. Justin Phillips, 23. Craig Barry.