Cape Town - The Lions received a welcome boost when they embarked on their Australasian tour with props JC Janse van Rensburg and CJ van der Linde declared fit enough to tour.

Both were first injured in the Lions’ second match of the season. The initial opinion on Janse van Rensburg was that he would be out for the remainder of the competition when he tore ligaments in his toe. Van der Linde returned two weeks ago from a groin injury but sat out the loss against the Brumbies because of a niggle he picked up at the recent Springbok training camp.

According to the Lions website, the University of Johannesburg flank Jaco Kriel is the only member of the 26-man squad announced on Sunday who has not played any Super Rugby this season.

Kriel made his Super Rugby debut against the Hurricanes in Wellington last year and also played Currie Cup for the Lions last season.

Kriel is the second player they have used from this year's Varsity Cup. Maties lock Grant Hatting is also in the touring group after a good debut when he came on as replacement against the Brumbies.

Flyhalf Butch James will not accompany the side after his suspension for four weeks for a dangerous charge into a ruck against the Brumbies. The last day of his suspension coincides with the Lions’ last match on the tour.

The Lions will play log leaders the Chiefs and the bottom-of-the-log Blues in New Zealand before taking on the Reds and Force in Australia.

Lions touring squad (in alphabetical order):

Martin Bezuidenhout, Ruan Botha, Patric Cilliers, Andries Coetzee, Ruaan Combrinck, Ross Cronje, Cobus Grobbelaar, Grant Hattingh, Alwyn Hollenbach, JC Janse van Rensburg, Elton Jantjies, James Kamana, Michael Killian, Jaco Kriel, Doppies le Roux, Lionel Mapoe, Tian Meyer, Derek Minnie, Caylib Oosthuizen, Hendrik Roodt, Joshua Strauss, Jaco Taute, CJ van der Linde, Franco van der Merwe, Deon van Rensburg, Callie Visagie.