The FidelitySecureDrive Lions welcome back two Springboks and made a few changes to their side to face Glasgow Warriors in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Springboks Morne van den Berg and Asenathi Ntlabakanye return to the starting line up after missing their last game against the Dragons and will bolster the side with their experience.
Van den Berg was injured and Ntlabakanye was withdrawn due to his doping hearing after testing positive for a banned substance. The prop’s hearing has final arguments at the end of the month whereafter a decision is expected.
With the injury of Bronson Mills being a setback for the Lions, they have decided to play utility back Richard Kriel at 12, while Erich Cronje stays on the wing.
The other returnees from injury are flanker JC Pretorius and prolific try scoring winger Kelly Mpeku, with both being selected on the bench for the Lions.
Siba Mahashe will continue his breakthrough season in the starting line-up while the league’s top points scorer Chris Smith continues at 10.
The Lions are currently fifth and a victory over the top of the table Glasgow will be a welcome boost to their hopes of their first ever top eight finish.
FidelitySecureDrive Lions: Quan Horn; Angelo Davids, Henco van Wyk, Richard Kriel, Erich Cronje; Chris Smith, Morne van den Berg; Francke Horn (captain), Ruan Venter, Siba Mahashe, Darrien Landsberg, Etienne Oosthuizen, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, PJ Botha, SJ Kotze.
Replacements: Franco Marais, Eddie Davids, Sebastian Lombard, Reinhard Nothnagel, Batho Hlekani, JC Pretorius, Nico Steyn, Kelly Mpeku
Players not available: Bronson Mills, Izan Esterhuizen, Juan Schoeman, Layton Horn, Morgan Naude, RF Schoeman, Stian de Bruyn