Tiaan Swanepoel, Sibusiso Sangweni, Stean Pienaar and Wilhelm van der Sluys were not considered due to injuries while Willem Alberts is still sidelined.

Dan Kriel retains the captaincy in midfield and the exciting loose trio of Francke Horn, Vincent Tshituka and MJ Pelser got the nod again after sterling performances last weekend.

Jordan Hendrikse has been recalled from the SA Rugby Under-20 Academy alignment camp while Jaco Visagie and Burger Odendaal return from injury and are included on the bench.

Saturday’s match at Kings’ Park in Durban kicks off at 16:00.

Sharks - 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Jeremy Ward, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Ox Nche

Replacements - 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Werner Kok.

Lions - 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 MJ Pelser, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Sti Sithole

Replacements - 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Len Massyn, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Jordan Hendrikse, 23 Burger Odendaal.