**Sixth takes on seventh in Conference A this weekend as Zebre host Toyota Cheetahs in Round 13 of Guinness PRO14 action.**

What’s at stake? Zebre are in danger of being cut adrift at the bottom of Conference A, having not won in the competition since their superb 34-16 triumph over Edinburgh in late October.

The Cheetahs currently sit one point above the Italian outfit on 17 from their ten matches so far, but will be looking to put daylight between the two sides with victory in Parma.

Team news (Zebre): There are seven changes to the Zebre side that lost against Benetton Treviso on December 29, with Massimo Ceciliani, Eduardo Bello, Samuele Ortis, Giovanni Licata and Jimmy Tuivaiti all coming into the pack.

Scrum-half Guglielmo Palazzani comes in for his 120th cap, while Nicolas De Battista returns at inside centre.

Team news (Toyota Cheetahs): Franco Smith’s side return to action after a four-week winter break, and Smith also makes seven changes from their 21-17 defeat at home to Connacht last time around.

Tian Meyer returns to captain the side, while Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Rabz Maxwane, Tian Schoeman, Aranos Coetzee, Justin Basson and Daniel Maartens are all in the starting XV.

Talking points:

Cheetahs director of rugby Franco Smith: “The players show a lot of enthusiasm and commitment at training and we are ready for the challenge ahead. It will be tough to face a team who has won twice at home but we are ready to take them on.”

Key battle: Guglielmo Palazzani v Tian Meyer

Two vastly experienced heads and two very canny operators are set to start at nine in this encounter. The Cheetahs will look to use their pace in the backs to hurt Zebre, with scrum-half Meyer key to ensuring quick ball in order to give the wings and centres a chance to stretch their legs. Palazzani will look to stifle his opposite number while turning to the likes of Carlo Canna at ten for Zebre’s best chances of building attacks and breaching a Cheetahs defence which has shipped the most points in Conference A this season (322).

Key stat: The South African side have scored 214 points to Zebre’s 151 this season, despite playing two fewer matches so far.

Did you know? Since entering the competition, Cheetahs have won both Guinness PRO14 meetings between the two sides, prevailing 54-39**** and 24-23 in two hugely entertaining clashes to date.

Zebre: Edoardo Padovani, Paula Balekana, Giulio Besegni, Nicolas De Battista, James Elliott, Carlo Canna, Guglielmo Palazzani, Andrea Lovotti, Massimo Ceciliani, Eduardo Bello, David Sisi ©, Samuele Ortis, Maxime Mbanda, Giovanni Licata, Jimmy Tuivaiti.

Replacements: Luhandre Luus, Daniele Rimpelli, Giosue Zilocchi, George Biagi, Iacopo Bianchi, Joshua Renton, Francois Brummer, Tommaso Boni.

Toyota Cheetahs: Malcolm Jaer, William Small-Smith, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Nico Lee, Rabz Maxwane, Tian Schoeman, Tian Meyer ©, Ox Nche, Joseph Dweba, Aranos Coetzee, Justin Basson, JP du Preez, Gerhard Olivier, Junior Pokomela, Daniel Maartens.

Replacements: Reinach Venter, Charles Marais, Luan de Bruin, Sintu Manjezi, Walt Steenkamp, Abongile Nonkontwana, Rudy Paige, Louis Fouche.

TV: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Sunday 2pm. Live on DAZN, Premier Sports 1, Super Sport 1 and eir sport 2

Referee : Dan Jones (WRU)

Assistant Referees: Aled Evans (WRU) and Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)