Jansen van Vuren has been out of commission since the Lions maiden tour to the United Kingdom in the URC.

Jansen van Vuren has been named in the stating side along with the flanker, Ruhan Straeuli, who is standing in for the injured Vincent Tshituka.

Jansen van Vuren told OFM Sport that he is excited to play again.

“Absolutely - I'm very grateful and blessed to be healed up and to get an opportunity to play again.

“I'm really looking forward to the challenge the Sharks will bring over the weekend.

“I'm just really excited and can't wait to get going again.”

Saturday’s game at Ellis Park in Johannesburg kicks off at 15:00.

Lions - 15 EW Viljoen, 14, Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruhan Straeuli, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole.

Replacements - 16 PJ Botha, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Matt More, 23, Tiaan Swanepoel.

Sharks - 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Jeandré Labuschagne, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Thomas du Toit, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, Ox Nché.

Replacements - 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Tito Bonilla, 23 Jeremy Ward.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport