Johnny Kôtze will start at outside centre in his first game for the Bulls when they take on the Lions in a pre-season friendly in Zimbabwe on Saturday.

Kôtze moved from the Stormers to the Bulls during the off-season last year and is set to make his debut in Saturday's Super Rugby warm-up game.

Elsewhere, Tony Jantjies – brother of Elton – will start at flyhalf with Andre Warner at scrumhalf.

Coach Nollis Marais picked a strong front row, with props Jacobie Adriaanse and Lizo Gqoboka starting either side of hooker Edgar Marutlulle.

Flank Nic de Jager has been named team captain for the game.

Francois Brummer, Pierre Schoeman, RG Snyman, Hanro Liebenberg, Tian Schoeman and Warrick Gelant were all selected on the bench.

Bulls – 15 Manie Libbok, 14 Luther Obi, 13 Johnny Kôtze, 12 JT Jackson, 11 Rabs Maxwane, 10 Tony Jantjies, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Renaldo Botha, 7 Hendre Stassen, 6 Nic de Jager ©, 5 Abongile Nonkontwana, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Subs: 16 Francois Brummer, 17 Franco Naude, 18 Pierre Schoeman, 19 Corniel Els, 20 Coenraad van Vuuren, 21 RG Snyman, 22 Shaun Adendorff, 23 Hanro Liebenberg, 24 Ivan van Zyl, 25 Tian Schoeman, 26 Burger Odendaal, 27 Dries Swanepoel, 28 Jamba Ulengo, 29 Stade Stiglingh, 30 Warrick Gelant.

Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images