Annemie Bester

Potchefstroom. - Eight former Lions will have the opportunity to prove themselves against their former Union when the Leopards travel to Rustenburg on Saturday for a clash against their Big Brothers.

The Leopards side show five changes and a positional switch from the side that lost against Griquas.

Lock Ligtoring Landman and centre Deon van Rensburg represented the Lions in this year’s Super 14, with captain Wilhelm Koch, number eight RW Kember and hooker Gavin Williamson representing the Lions in last year’s competition.

Flyhalf Clayton Durand, tighthead prop Philip Lemmer and lock Rudi Mathee have all launched their careers as Lions and winger Jan van Zyl was on trial with the Super 14 squad earlier this year.

There is also red Lion blood in new fullback Jean Tiedt, who represented the Lions at Craven Week level under the guidance of current senior coach Hans Coetzee.

These players would need no motivation to prove themselves against the Lions.

Tiedt replaces fullback Russell Jeacocks, who is suffering from a knee injury and Jovan Bowles and Jan van Zyl starts ahead of Colin Lloyd (also a former Lion) and Bom Samaai.

In the pack Lemmer returns at tighthead and Bennie Adams gets a deserved chance on the flank. Adams replaces former Griffon Christo van Niekerk.

Mathee returns on the bench after a hand injury, while two new boys, inside centre Berndt Theissinger and fullback Danie Dames, start from the bench.

Leopards: Jean Tiedt; Jovan Bowles, Deon van Rensburg, Japie Nel, Jan van Zyl; Clayton Durand, Michael Bondesio; RW Kember, Bennie Adams, Wilhelm Koch ©, Anthonie Gronum, Ligtoring Landman, Philip Lemmer, Gavin Williamson, Nardus Lombard. Reserves: Pellow van der Westhuizen, Os van der Walt, Rudi Mathee, Christo van Niekerk, Berndt Theissinger, Bom Samaai, Danie Dames.