Coach Johan Ackermann has made a number of rotational changes to the Golden Lions team to face the Sharks in Durban.

In four changes to the pack, prop Ruan Dreyer and hooker Robbie Coetzee come into the front row, with MB Lusaseni and Kwagga Smith slotting in at lock and flank respectively.

Among the backs, Stokkies Hanekom takes over from injured centre Harold Vorster, while Jaco Van Der Walt comes in at fullback as Ruan Combrinck shifts to the right wing in place of Sampie Mastriet.

Ackermann said that besides the one injury-enforced change, the rest were simply a case of rotational switches, which has also resulted in a completely new-look bench for the Lions.

Golden Lions – 15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Jaco Kriel (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 MB Lusaseni, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Ruan Dreyer.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Martin Muller, 19 Steph de Wit, 20 Ricky Schroeder, 21 Alwyn Hollenbach, 22 Anthony Volmink.

Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images