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Durban - The Sharks will be without Tendai Mtawarira for this weekend's crucial Super Rugby clash against the Lions in Johannesburg.
The 31-year-old was not considered for selection this week due to the death of his grandmother, the Sharks confirmed when releasing their team on Thursday.
Mtawarira will be replaced at loosehead prop by Thomas du Toit.
There is a significant milestone for scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, who notches up his 50th Super Rugby cap this weekend.
Dan du Preez, meanwhile, has been named at No 8 for his first start of the season alongside twin brother Jean-Luc du Preez and captain Tera Mtembu in the loose trio.
Garth April comes in at fullback for Frenchman Clement Poitrenaud, who drops out of the matchday 23 altogether. That opens up a place on the bench for Inny Radebe, while 19-year-old Curwin Bosch continues at flyhalf in the absence of the injured Pat Lambie.
The match kicks off at 17:15.
Teams:
Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Harold Vorster, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Ruan Ackermann, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen
Substitutes: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Sti Sithole/Corne Fourie, 18 Johannes Jonker/Hencus van Wyk, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Jacques Nel, 23 Dillon Smit/Lionel Mapoe
Sharks
15 Garth April, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Tera Mtembu (captain), 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Thomas du Toit
Substitutes: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Michael Claassens, 22 Inny Radebe, 23 Jeremy Ward
