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Fellow Springbok Bismarck du Plessis, however, is out of the clash in Auckland.
The 21-year-old Lambie missed the last two matches due to a dental injury, and is back in the starting XV ahead of Frenchman Frederic Michalak, one of three changes made by coach John Plumtree.
Looking back on last week’s 42-18 loss to the Hurricanes in New Plymouth, he said: "Obviously, defensively, we weren’t up for the task, we weren’t good enough to look after their threats. "That’s something we’ve put a big focus on this week. We’re making similar errors week-in and week-out, which is pretty frustrating for us."
Hooker Du Plessis, who played off the bench in last week’s loss to the Hurricanes, has failed to recover from an adductor strain suffered at training earlier in the week and has returned home.
His place among the reserves goes to Kyle Cooper.
Elsewhere, Jean Deysel makes his first start of the season ahead of fellow Springbok Willem Alberts at flank - the latter dropping to the bench - while the third change sees Anton Bresler come in for Jandre Marais.
Teams:
Blues:
TBA
Sharks:
15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Keegan Daniel (captain), 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Dale Chadwick
Substitutes: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Jandre Marais, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Jacques Botes, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Frederic Michalak
