Junior Springbok flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse has returned to the Sigma Lions starting lineup to face the British & Irish Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

This will be the first match the visiting Lions have played on South African soil in 12 years.

Burger Odendaal and Sti Sithole have also returned to the match-day 23.

Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen is savouring the opportunity for his young squad to go up against this iconic side.

“This is such a big opportunity for every player involved. There is such a small group of guys who will have the chance to play against players of this calibre in their lifetime, and I hope that they truly take a moment to take it in and savour the enormity of the moment.”

This highly anticipated match will kick off at 6pm.

Lions – 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Sbusiso Sangweni, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Nathan McBeth.
Subs: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Ruhan Straeuli, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Dan Kriel.

Photo: Wessel Oosthuizen/Gallo Images