Manuel Rass will provide cover from the bench.

Instrumental lock forward Reinhard Nothnagel wears the captain's armband in a fixture where the Johannesburg-based outfit will look to finish on a high in Newport. Earlier this week, the Lions mentor stressed the need to look ahead, and his team's final URC fixture is the ideal opportunity to explore new combinations. 

"As mentioned last week, it gives us an opportunity as a franchise to cast our eye towards the future, and we believe that this group will form part of that core." "They'll be a few guys in the match 23 who will be relishing the opportunity to make a name for themselves against international opposition."

"In saying that, Dragons will be a tough outfit to play at a vibrant Rodney Parade. We've planned and trained well this week so the guys we’ll be up for it come Saturday,” concluded Van Rooyen. Elsewhere, exciting loose forward Jarod Cairns and gifted tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye could make an appearance from the bench. 

Kick-off is at 16:00 SA time. 

Lions - 15 Quan Horn, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Matt More, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (captain), 4 Ruan Venter, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 JP Smith

Replacements - 16 Pieter Botha, 17 Sithembiso Sithole, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Jarod Cairns, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Manuel Rass, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel