Northern Bulls centre Wynand Olivier withdrew from Saturday's Super 14 semi-final against Canterbury Crusaders after failing a test on a hip injury on Friday.

Marius Delport, not a member of the original 22, comes in at outside centre with Jaco Pretorius moving across to inside centre in a new partnership for the Pretoria franchise.

Pretorius was promoted from the replacements bench when JP Nel received a four-week ban from rugby last Monday after being found guilty of a dangerous tackle on Coastal Sharks fullback Stefan Terblanche.

Nel appealed unsuccessfully against the suspension, which would also rule him out of the final against Waikato Chiefs if Bulls defeat defending champions Crusaders.

Bulls overcame Canterbury 27-12 at the same stage of the southern hemisphere championship two years ago and went on to defeat Sharks and become the first South African winners of the competition.

While captain and lock Victor Matfield is one of many Bulls survivors from the 2007 semi-final, only fullback Leon MacDonald and flanker Richie McCaw of that Crusaders team remain.

Teams (15-1)

BULLS: Zane Kirchner; Akona Ndungane, Marius Delport, Jaco Pretorius, Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann; Victor Matfield (capt), Bakkies Botha; Werner Kruger, Derick Kuun, Gurthro Steenkamp

Replacements: Chilliboy Ralepelle, Rayno Gerber, Danie Rossouw, Pedrie Wannenburg, Heini Adams, Burton Francis, Gerhard van den Heever

CRUSADERS: Leon MacDonald; Jared Payne, Tim Bateman, Ryan Crotty, Adam Whitelock; Stephen Brett, Andy Ellis; Thomas Waldrom, Richie McCaw (capt), Kieran Read; Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn; Owen Franks, Jason MacDonald, Wyatt Crockett

Replacements: (from) Daniel Perrin, Ben Franks, Michael Paterson, George Whitelock, Kahn Fotuali'i, Colin Slade, Hamish Gard, Tyson Keats, Ross Filipo

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