Martin Muller will start at No 4 lock for the Golden Lions against the Pumas at Ellis Park on Friday.

Muller has been drafted in after MB Lusaseni was ruled out of action following his horror injury in the 35-33 win over Western Province this past weekend.

There's also concern over the availability of hooker Malcolm Marx, who has been bracketed alongside Willie Wepener in the match-day squad. He will have to pass a fitness test later in the week to retain his place as a substitute.

The good news from the Lions camp is that Derick Minnie has recovered from his injury niggle to take up a place among the reserves.

Golden Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe (c), 12 Stokkies Hanekom, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Ricky Schroeder, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx/Willie Wepener, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Derick Minnie, 20 Warwick Tecklenburg, 21 Mark Richards, 22 Howard Mnisi.

Photo: Barry Aldworth/BackpagePix