The under-fire Lions named a loaded side for this afternoon clash as they go hunting for a first win of the competition.

The Griquas in their turn will want to return to winning ways after recently stumbling against the Bulls on home soil.

The Lions coach, Mziwakhe Nkosi, told OFM Sport that Du Plessis is a natural choice as a leader.

“We are blessed to call on a guy like Jannie du Plessis. He brings a ton of experience if you consider our youth as a team.

“He is raring to go after not receiving a lot of game time of late.

“He is a natural leader and he will take the captaincy with Asenathi Ntlabakanye on the bench and us as a team - we are definitely better off for it.”

Wednesday afternoon’s match at Tafel Lager Park kicks off at 15:30.

Griquas - 15 Rynhardt Jonker, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Theo Boshoff, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Siba Qoma, 7 Janru Sirgel, 6 Niel Otto (captain), 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Eddie Davids.

Replacements - 16 Janco Uys, 17 Kudzwai Dude, 18 Andries Schutte, 19 Luyolo Dapula, 20 Michael Amiras, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Ashlon Davids, 23 Prince Nkabinde.

Lions - 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Matt More, 11 Divan Rossouw, 10 James Tedder, 9 Ginter Smuts, 8 Emanuel Tshituka, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Simon Dionisio, 4 Lunga Ncube, 3 Jannie du Plessis (captain), 2 Morne Brandon, 1 Jean-Pierre Smith

Replacements -  16 Jacque-Louis du Toit, 17 Okuhle Siyeni, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 MJ Pelser, 20 Mark Snyman, 21 Jurich Claasens, 22 Luke Rossouw, 23 James Mollentze

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport