Hanro Liebenberg will captain the Leicester Tigers side in Saturday’s European knockout fixture away to Glasgow Warriors.
After finishing third in Pool 1, the squad were seeded tenth and drawn to take on the Scottish club, seeded in seventh, in the Round of 16.
Liebenberg is named in a new-look back row trio alongside Emeka Ilione and Olly Cracknell.
Elsewhere in the pack, Cameron Henderson and Harry Wells are the second row pairing and up front the experienced Dan Cole starts with Nicky Smith and Finn Theobald-Thomas in the front row.
Jack van Poortvliet and Handré Pollard are the half-backs, while Solomone Kata is joined by Dan Kelly in the midfield.
In an unchanged back three from the side’s last outing, at Mattioli Woods Welford Road against Saracens, the wings are Ollie Hassell-Collins and Adam Radwan, and Freddie Steward is the full-back.
On the bench, the forwards are Charlie Clare, Archie van der Flier, Will Hurd, Tom Manz, and Finn Carnduff. Ben Youngs, Jamie Shillcock, and Joseph Woodward the backs.
If used, van der Flier and Manz will make their debut Investec Champions Cup appearances.
Speaking ahead of the game, Cheika said: “Any time you reach the knockout stages of Europe, every team remaining is a chance and every team remaining is a quality side. There are no easy games in Europe and that’s the case for us against the defending URC champions in their backyard.”
“We are looking forward to this challenge and excited about Saturday’s game, travelling to Scotland for some knockout rugby.”
STARTING XV
15 Freddie Steward [103]
14 Adam Radwan [4]
13 Dan Kelly [93]
12 Solomone Kata [36]
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins [40]
10 Handré Pollard [46]
9 Jack van Poortvliet [88]
1 Nicky Smith [16]
2 Finn Theobald-Thomas [16]
3 Dan Cole [337]
4 Cameron Henderson [57]
5 Harry Wells [215]
6 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [124]
7 Emeka Ilione [40]
8 Olly Cracknell [59]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Charlie Clare [116]
17 Archie van der Flier [3]
18 Will Hurd [37]
19 Tom Manz [13]
20 Finn Carnduff [18]
21 Ben Youngs [330]
22 Jamie Shillcock [45]
23 Joseph Woodward [25]
