Coach Franco Smith has opted to go with a Charles Marais, Torsten van Jaarsveld and Maks van Dyk in his front-row after the trio started on the bench against the Sunwolves last week in Singapore.

Springbok lock, Lood de Jager, also makes a return to the second-row after being rested last week according to SARU guidelines and he will be packing down in the scrum alongside Carl Wegner, with former captain, Francois Uys, moving back to the bench.

By scoring 22 points last week during their 32-31 win over the Japanese outfit, flyhalf Niel Marais cracked the nod to start in the pivot role once again while Fred Zeilinga warms the bench.

This will make for an exciting battle with his opposite number, the in-form Elton Jantjies.

Marais, who was largely instrumental in the UFS Shimlas winning the 2015 Varsity Cup, is a rookie by Super Rugby stands, however, last week shows why Smith has a lot of faith in the player.

Jantjies in his turn is the likely candidate to don the green-and-gold this year with Handré Pollard out of action for the entire year and Pat Lambie also side-lined for lengthy stint.

Captain Francois Venter told OFM Sport that Saturday will be a big test for Marais, but the pressure should be on the experienced Jantjies.

“Elton is in great shape and I think he is currently the number one flyhalf in South Africa based on his form.

“It’s going to be a great challenge for Niel. I think he is quite excited.

“He isn’t that experienced, but I think it can be a plus for him.

“He must just go out and enjoy the game, there isn’t anything holding him back.

“I think the pressure will be on Elton, he is more experienced and he must go out and perform. Niel Marais only needs to enjoy the game.”

Clayton Blommetjies also makes a return to fullback at the expense of Sias Ebersohn.

Saturday’s match at Emirates Airlines Park in Johannesburg kicks off at 17:05.

Toyota Cheetahs - 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter (captain), 12 William Small-Smith, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Tier Schoeman, 5 Lood de Jager (vice-captain), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Maks van Dyk, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Charles Marais.

Replacements - 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Francois Uys, 20 Hilton Lobberts, 21 Boom Prinsloo, 22 Tian Meyer, 23 Fred Zeilinga.

Lions - 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnal 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 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith.

Replacements - 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.



Morgan Piek/OFM News