Cape Town - Cheetahs captain Adriaan Strauss says they want to make up for their poor lineout display against the Bulls two weeks ago.

The men from Bloemfontein tackle the Lions in Johannesburg in their Super Rugby season-opener on Saturday.

Strauss told Volksblad they are traditionally strong in the lineouts and one bad effort hasn’t turned them into a poor lineout team.

The Cheetahs lost 16-39 to the Bulls in a pre-season game and have since been hard at work to correct the wrongs of that below-par effort in Polokwane.

"We owe ourselves and Izak van der Westhuizen (lock) a good game in the lineouts. We asked Izak to forgive us after the Bulls game because he works very hard and the guys didn't play their part," said Strauss.

Strauss said they weren't sharp enough against the Bulls.

"The Bulls competed well, but 80% of the times it was our own mistakes.

"There were problems with calls, throw-ins and the guys that need to support in the lineouts did not always play their part.

"It was one of those days when everyone made small errors. But it's something of the past.

"The Bulls game was a big wake-up call. We did well in the lineouts during our first two practice games (against the Kings and the Stormers).

"We can't become a poor lineout team in one game."