Fit-again wing Jamba Ulengo will make his first Vodacom Super Rugby appearance for the Lions against the Waratahs in Sydney on Friday.
Ulengo, who joined the Lions after a short stint with the Cheetahs, replaces Courtnall Skosan on the left wing in a purely rotational swap.
There are a further three changes to the starting lineup as Andre Warner starts in place of Morne van Berg, who is on the bench.
Meanwhile, Carlu Sadie replaces Jannie du Plessis, who is left out of the match day squad entirely, and Jan-Henning Campher comes in at hooker for Pieter Jansen.
Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Tyrone Green, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Elton Jantjies (c), 9 Andre Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jan-Hemming Campher, 1 Dylan Smith.
Subs: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 21 Hacjivah Dayimani, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images