Warren Whiteley has recovered from his knee injury and will lead the Golden Lions in their Provincial Rugby Challenge clash against the Blue Bulls in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Whiteley has been out of action since March after injuring a cruciate ligament in the Lions’ 38-35 Super Rugby loss to the Blues.

Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx, who suffered a torn hamstring against the Hurricanes in May, will also make his comeback in the game.

They will be joined by fellow Springboks Lionel Mapoe, Courtnall Skosan, Ross Cronjé and Ruan Combrinck in a strong starting XV for the Golden Lions.

Golden Lions – 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 James Venter, 5 Ryno Herbst, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Sithembiso Sithole.
Subs: 16 Corné Fourie, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Vincent Tshituka, 19 Hacjivah Dayimani, 20 Dillon Smit, 21 Ashlon Davids, 22 Jan-Louis la Grange.

Photo: Anne Laing/HSM Images