Johannesburg. - Discarded hooker Ethienne Reynecke, will lead the Golden Lions in a practice match against the Valke in Kempton Park on Wednesday night, taking over from flanker Derrick Minnie.

Reynecke has recovered from injury after losing his spot in the Super 14-squad and will lead from the front, literally and figuratively.

Coach Wimpie Vermeulen has made wholesale changes to his side that pushed the Leopards all the way, his last opportunity to give the rest of the squad a run. Minnie is one of a handful of players to retain his place, along with fullback Warren Perkins, wingers Wigan Pekeur and Bernardo Botha, lock Lehan Koekemoer and number eight Warren Perkins.

Two veterans, inside centre Stoetbul Hefer and the Namibian International Lu-Wayne Botes, also get a run against the Valke and an opportunity to stake their claims. The teenage halfbacks, Douw Steyn and Danny Botha, will start with the more experienced Straatkat van Zyl on the bench.

Loosehead prop Charl “KP” du Plessis also makes a welcome return to the game.

Golden Lions: Byron Godfrey; Wigan Pekeur, Lu-Wayne Botes, Stoetbul Hefer, Bernardo Botha; Douw Steyn, Danny Botha; Warren Perkins, Rudi Bezuidenhout, Derrick Minnie, Byron Egan, Lehan Koekemoer, Jacques George, Ethienne Reynecke ©, KP du Plessis. Reserwes: Derek Harwood, Martin Bezuidenhout, Dylan Maree, Shane Kirkwood, Mark Hennig, Straatkat van Zyl, Luhan Steenkamp, Pakisa Snyman. - Sapa