Prop Steven Kitshoff will captain the Stormers against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday due to the injury-enforced absence of both Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit.

Loose forwards Kolisi (knee), Du Toit (shoulder), Kobus van Dyk (knee) have all been ruled out of the Lions clash, with the latest news from Newlands confirming that captain Kolisi’s Super Rugby season is indeed over. 

Sikhumbuzo Notshe will start at No 8, with Jaco Coetzee shifting to openside flank and Johan du Toit coming into the side on the other side of the scrum.

Eben Etzebeth returns after being sidelined through illness last week and takes his place in the second row alongside Cobus Wiese.

The only change to the front row is a rotation at tighthead prop, with Wilco Louw in the starting line-up and Frans Malherbe set to make an impact in the second half.

Changes to the bench see the inclusion of fit-again utility forward Ernst van Rhyn and a potential Stormers debut for loose forward Marno Redelinghuys.

Stormers – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Josh Stander, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Jaco Coetzee, 5 Cobus Wiese, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff (c).
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Marno Redelinghuys, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Dan Kriel..

Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix