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Lions sweat over star duo

Johannesburg - The Lions will face an anxious wait to know if they will have the services of utility back Lionel Mapoe and lock Franco van der Merwe as both need to pass fitness tests before they are included in the team to face the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld this Saturday.

SuperSport.com reports that both players were in good form in the weekend win over the Rebels and coach Johan Ackermann will be looking to them to be fully fit for the final game of the Super Rugby season.

Mapoe has a dislocated left ring finger, although good news is there is no tendon or bone injury while Van der Merwe has a strained tibula. No word has been given by the Lions whether they expect them to be fit for the weekend’s match or not.

There was also no good news about the injuries to Alwyn Hollenbach (knee), Andries Coetzee (fibula), Deon van Rensburg (fibula), Pat Cilliers (calf) and CJ van der Linde (hamstring) as all are currently on the team medical list and no indication has been given when they will be able to play.

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