Alberts who has spent a lengthy period on the sidelines with a calf injury has been named on the bench for this week.

The Lions coach, Cash van Rooyen, told OFM Sport that they were tempted to start the 37-year-old Alberts.

“In the second part of the game he is going to be physicality, he is going to bring leadership and he is also going to bring calmness, with the younger guys around who are also on the bench with him.

“We’re excited that he is going to make a difference there in terms of our language, how we want to play and what is expected of us.

“There was a temptation for him to start, but he has got a massive role to play for us in the second half.”

Other changes see the return of Burger Odendaal at centre, and he also takes over the captaincy from Dan Kriel, who in his turn moves to the bench.

The flyhalf, Fred Zeilinga, also rotates to the bench, while Jordan Hendrikse cracks the nod in the number ten jersey.

Saturday’s game at Ellis Park kicks off at 13:30.

Lions - 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 André Warner, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 MJ Pelser, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole.

Replacements – 16 PJ Botha, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Dan Kriel.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport