Robbie Coetzee and Julian Redelinghuys will return for the Lions from the bench against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
Coach Johan Ackermann has made several changes to the side that went down 22-8 to the Hurricanes at Ellis Park last Friday, all among the forwards.
In the front row, Jacques van Rooyen comes in at loosehead prop, with Schalk van der Merwe shifting to the bench to provide cover alongside Coetzee and Redelinghuys.
However, the loss of Jaco Kriel due to the recurrence of a groin injury will be a massive blow to the Lions' hopes of ending a eight-match losing streak at Kings Park. As a result, Warwick Tecklenburg is called up to the starting lineup, with Derick Minnie shifting to openside flank.
There are three potential Vodacom Super Rugby debutants on the bench, with lock JP du Preez, flank Ruaan Lerm and centre Harold Vorster all named, alongside halfbacks Faf de Klerk and Elton Jantjies.
Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1. Jacques van Rooyen.
Subs: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Schalk van der Merwe, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Ruaan Lerm, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Harold Vorster.
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
