Warren Whiteley will make his return to the Lions starting XV for their Super Rugby clash against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
Whiteley, who had been sidelined for three months with a knee injury, returned to action last Sunday in the Provincial Rugby Challenge.
Also making his return is hooker Malcolm Marx, who completed 40 minutes of action in the same match after recovering from a hamstring tear he suffered on the Lions’ Australasian tour.
There are six changes to the team that beat the Stormers in late May, with Marx replacing Robbie Coetzee and Whiteley coming in for Marnus Schoeman. Kwagga Smith shifts from No 8 to openside flank.
Cyle Brink starts at blindside flank, with Franco Mostert moving to lock in place of Lourens Erasmus. Dylan Smith comes into the front row, replacing Jacques van Rooyen at loosehead prop.
There are two changes to the backline, with Ross Cronjé replacing Nic Groom at scrumhalf and Lionel Mapoe coming in for the Sale-bound Rohan Janse van Rensburg at outside centre.
Springbok wing Courtnall Skosan will make his first Super Rugby appearance of the year off the bench.
Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Voster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith.
Subs: 16 Corne Fourie, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Marnus Schoeman, 22 Nic Groom, 23 Courtnall Skosan.
Photo: Wessel Oosthuizen/Gallo Images
