The Lions head into Sunday’s Currie Cup semi-final with a reinvigorated side after two key players were included to face title-holders Griquas in Kimberley.
Ruan Delport returns to lead the Pride against the defending champions at Griqua Stadium. He will partner Siya Qoma in the second row.
Scrumhalf Haashim Pead has been drafted in by coach Mziwakhe Nkosi to start at No 9, with Asad Moos on the bench.
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Prop Siya Dube and lock JD Hattingh are the other changes to the replacements.
The Lions, seeking a third straight final appearance, travel to the Northern Cape on the back of a 36-12 win over the Stormers XXIII in Joburg.
The teams met during the league phase in the City of Diamonds, where Pieter Bergh’s Griquas claimed a 31-19 victory.
LIONS – 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Keagan Smith, 13 Ethan Adams, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Latica Nela, 10 Matt Coetzee, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Renzo du Plessis, 6 Thando Biyela, 5 Ruan Delport (c), 4 Siba Qoma, 3 Ruan Swart, 2 Armand Combrinck, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Bench: 16 Mahle Sithole, 17 Siya Dube, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 JD Hattingh, 21 Asad Moos, 22 Exauce Kevani, 23 Luke Cannon.
Photo: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images
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