The 22-year-old University of Cape Town flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis has cracked the nod for a run-on slot in the Western Province Currie Cup team to play the Leopards, at Olën Park, Potchefstroom, on Friday.

Following the injury to the WP first-choice pivot Gary van Aswegen, coach Allister Coetzee had a choice between Catrakilis and Isma-eel Dollie, who previously played Currie Cup rugby for WP and Boland.

Catrakilis, who made his Currie debut from the substitutes' bench against Griquas at Newlands last week, is expected to give the team better direction.

"Since Van Aswegen will be out for much longer than expected we [WP] had two ways of addressing the matter," said Coetzee.

"The one approach was to be conservative and the other was to be aggressive in our selection.

"I've had a chance to look at the two players at training and I looked for one that had the ability to run the show along the backline.

"I needed a flyhalf who could give the side direction, make good decisions, make the right [playing] calls as well as holding his own on defence."

Catrakilis' goal-kicking ability may have also swung the vote in his favour as Coetzee referred to him the "most accurate place-kicker in our system".

Coetzee felt that Dollie will have a chance to prove himself again at Currie Cup level but felt Catrakilis was the one to go with for Friday's game.

"He's [Dollie] a talented player and it's my duty to provide him with an opportunity to show what he can do at this [Currie Cup] level," said Coetzee.

"I also won't consider bringing in a flyhalf from outside to solve the problem because at WP we want to back our own guys."

SAPA