The Lions will take on their arch rivals over the weekend when they meet the Southern Kings in their second warm-up match.
The match will take place on Saturday February 1 in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The kick-off is at 17:00.
Lions head coach, Johan Ackermann has brought back his stalwarts to the Johannesburg outfit.
“We have decided to give our players who rested a chance to go on the field and play. It is an exciting group of players and they are ready to play. They are also a very young side and some of them have never played Super Rugby and the first time that they will play overseas.”
The 23 players named for the match will Julian Redelinghuys, Franco van der Merwe, Jaco Kriel, Warren Whiteley, Michael Bondesio, Marnitz Boshoff and Andries Coetzee. They will all start this weekend’s match.
In other changes, Willie Wepener is promoted to the starting XV as Robbie Coetzee provides cover on the wood.
In the backline, Lionel Mapoe comes in at outside centre as JW Jonker is moved to the bench. Chrysander Botha will also start at wing for this fixture.
Ackermann said, “Where the other teams have weight on their side in the scrums, our young players have the agility and speed.”
As for the Lions’ new captain, Warren Whiteley on his selection to lead the side, said, “I can’t wait to lead the side and it is very exciting. I also have a lot of leaders in the team to help, which makes it easier.”
The team is:
15. Andries Coetzee
14. Chrysander Botha
13. Lionel Mapoe
12. Stefan Watermeyer
11. Courtnall Skosan
10. Marnitz Boshoff
9. Michael Bondesio
8. Warren Whiteley (c)
7. Derick Minnie
6. Jaco Kriel
5. Franco van der Merwe
4. Rudi Mathee
3. Julian Redelinghuys
2. Willie Wepener
1. Schalk van der Merwe
16. Robbie Coetzee
17. Jacques van Rooyen
18. Corne Fourie
19. Willie Britz
20. Warwick Tecklenburg
21. Faf de Klerk
22. Willie du Plessis
23. JW Jonker
