Ivan van Zyl will captain an injury-hit Blue Bulls outfit in their Currie Cup derby against the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Van Zyl will make his first start in the competition this year after playing off the bench twice so far and take the armband from the injured Ruan Steenkamp.

The starting lineup shows six changes overall, with Van Zyl switching roles with Embrose Papier as the only change in the backline.

Tuks flank Fred Eksteen will make his Bulls debut as he comes in for Steenkamp at openside flank.

Eksteen will run out along with Dayan van der Westhuizen and Johan Grobbelaar, who were both elevated into the starting team in place of Simphiwe Matanzima and Jaco Visagie, respectively.

In a fifth change to the pack, Andries Ferreira will start at lock, with Adre Smith moving back to the bench after being named a late starter against Griquas.

Bulls – 15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Dylan Sage, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Ivan van Zyl (c), 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Wian Vosloo, 6 Fred Eksteen, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Dayan van der Westhuizen.
Subs: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Madot Mabokela, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Jean Droste, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Stedman Gans.

Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix