Johannesburg - Two Lions players will earn their first Vodacom Super Rugby starts of the season when the Johannesburg side host the Cheetahs at Coca-Cola Park on Friday night.
As expected, new recruit Dylan des Fontain comes into the team at centre in the place of Waylon Murray who is recovering from an ankle injury.
Up front, 23-year-old Edgar Marutlulle - the University of Johannesburg’s Player-of-the-Year in 2010 - will start at hooker in the place of Martin Bezuidenhout, with regular No 2 Bandise Maku also nursing an injury.
Josh Strauss makes a return to the starting line-up after coming on as an impact player during the Lions' last match against the Chiefs two weeks ago.
The hosts have also opted for Kevin Buys at tighthead prop where he will do battle with the in-form Coenie Oosthuizen.
Teams
Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Patric Cilliers, 18 Franco Van der Merwe, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Jaco Taute.
Cheetahs
TBA