Coach Ivan van Rooyen has made one change to the starting XV as the Lions prepare to hunt the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The Bulls will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing defeat to the Sharks at home in round 11, while the Lions are fired up by the prospect of adding an SA derby win to go with last week’s 30-23 victory over the Stormers.
READ: Lions ‘bridesmaids’ no match for Bulls
Flanker Jarod Cairns has been promoted to start at openside flank in place of JC Pretorious who has been dropped from the matchday 23 with Renzo du Plessis providing back-row cover from the bench.
Cairns links up with bruiser Ruan Venter and captain Francke Horn in a hard-hitting loose trio.
An unchanged tight-five packs down, spearheaded by loosehead prop Juan Schoeman, veteran hooker PJ Botha and tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, while Etienne Oosthuizen and Darrien Landsberg power the scrum as the lock pairing.
In the backline, Morne van den Berg combines with Gianni Lombard, who makes his third URC start at flyhalf. Bok duo Quan Horn and Edwill van der Merwe link with Richard Kriel in a dynamic back three, with Marius Louw partnering Henco van Wyk in midfield.
After a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Du Plessis is set to make his first appearance off the bench since the EPCR Challenge Cup clash against Ospreys in early December. Morgan Naude and Conrad van Vuuren join the squad, while Siba Qoma also makes a return from injury.
On a weekend where the Jukskei derby marks the only URC fixture, a bonus-point win could boost the Lions five places into seventh on the table, while a victory for the third-placed Bulls would create some breathing room between them and the Sharks.
Lions – 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman
Bench: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Conrad van Vuuren, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Sibabalo Qoma, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Manuel Rass
Photo: Roberto Bregani/Gallo Images