Ross Cronjé will lead a young Lions team that include two debutants in their Currie Cup opener against the Pumas in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Cronjé, easily the most experienced member of the match-day 23, forms the halfback pairing with Sean Reynolds, who steps in with Elton Jantjies away on international duty.

Centre Wayne van der Bank, who forms the midfield with Wandisile Simelane, is on debut as is wing Stean Pienaar, who forms a back three with fullback Tyrone Green and right wing Madosh Tambwe.

James Venter will start at No 8, alongside Marnus Schoeman and Vincent Tshituka in the loose trio, while Reinhard Nothnagel and Rhyno Herbst are the lock pairing.

Jan-Henning Campher starts at hooker, with Dylan Smith and Johannes Jonker completing the front row.

On the bench, there is another potential debut in lock Ruben Schoeman.

Lions – 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Wayne van der Bank, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Ross Cronjé (c), 8 James Venter, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 Dylan Smith.
Subs: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Len Massyn, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Manuel Rass, 23 Jan-Louis la Grange.

Photo: Wessel Oosthuizen/Gallo Images