Elton Jantjies will get a rare chance to impress from the kick-off against the Cheetahs at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The 2011 Currie Cup winner will start only his third match of the season after he finding himself playing second fiddle to Marnitz Boshoff for much of the 2014 campaign. His inclusion is one of three changes to the team, all of them among the backs.
Lionel Mapoe comes in on the wing in place of Deon van Rensburg, while Andries Coetzee will start at fullback having returned from injury.
The forward pack remains unchanged from the one which dominated during the Lions' 34-17 win over the Rebels last weekend.
The match will be the final appearance of lock Franco van der Merwe in a Lions jersey ahead of his move to Ulster, while Lionel Mapoe and Elton Jantjies will win their 50th Super Rugby caps.
Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Subs: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Willie Britz, 20 Derick Minnie, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Courtnall Skosan.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
