The second-rower has been named in the starting XV for the game against the Welsh outfit.

The team from the Highveld also welcomes the return of the Tshituka brothers, Vincent and Emmanuel, after the pair missed the trip to Dublin to face Leinster due to visa issues.

Vincent will start against Cardiff, while Emmanuel, who played against the Cheetahs in the Currie Cup last week, will provide cover off the bench.

The Lions coach, Ivan van Rooyen, expressed his delight to having Nothnagel back.

“We’re pretty pleased to have Notties back. Our lineout stocks have been quite thin due to injuries, so to have him at number 5 is quite exciting.

“Cardiff Rugby will be an interesting tussle this Sunday. They will be our first international team we face at home in the competition.

“We had prepared quite intensely for them previously, so this week has been focused on tweaking a few things having analysed their play over the past two months.”

“It's a home game so we are backing ourselves for a positive result. The players are feeling upbeat attitude-wise, especially after our spirited performance away to Leinster a fortnight ago.

This game at Ellis Park in Johannesburg kicks off at 16:00.

Lions - 15 Quan Horn, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel (captain), 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole

Replacements - 16 PJ Botha, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Ruan Venter, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Manuel Rass, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport