Lions centre Harold Vorster says he wants to contribute to the team’s quest to reach the Vodacom Super Rugby playoffs after making a timely return to the starting lineup.

Vorster started in the Lions’ 38-29 victory over the Highlanders last weekend after he was dropped due to poor form. Prior to the victory over the Waratahs, Vorster had last started a match for the Lions in their round three loss against the Vodacom Bulls in Johannesburg.

Since then the Lions have experimented with youngster Franco Naude, outside centre Lionel Mapoe and even flyhalf Elton Jantjies being shifted to the inside centre position.

Now back, and forming his regular combination with Mapoe, Vorster admitted that coach Swys de Bruin was correct to pull him out of the firing line.

‘It is good to be back. I am really enjoying playing with the boys again. I am very thankful for what coach Swys did. It was a wake-up call and made me hungry to play.

‘I just focused on basic things again, enjoying myself and not feeling any pressure to express myself out there. It was a mental thing, mental toughness. I needed to get back to the best shape I could be, and focus on just expressing myself without any pressure.’

Vorster and Mapoe could come up against a Springbok centre pair in André Esterhuizen and Lukhanyo Am when the Lions face the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

The match is a must-win if the Lions are to keep up with the Bulls, who lead the South African conference by two points.

‘The Sharks have a really good team,’ Vorster said. ‘They are well trained and very good on attack. Their defence is quite physical. So I have expected them to be quite good this year.’

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