The Toyota Cheetahs winger, Siba Xamlashe, is excited to get a start on Saturday when they face the Lions XV in Johannesburg in their final warm-up game before the EPCR Challenge Cup.

Xamlashe, who joined the Cheetahs from Maties last year, has played in only one warm-up game for the team, and that was ahead of the Currie Cup against the Griffons.

This is due to injuries throughout the year, while he missed last week’s warm-up because of a concussion.

Xamlashe told OFM Sport that they want to put in a strong performance before heading to Europe.

“I'm excited, I'm keen, I'm ready to give it a full go and just to enjoy it,” said Xamlashe.

“I just want to come out victorious in the end with the team after everything we have worked for and planned throughout the week.

“It will be very good for us going into the Zebre game and the European season if we can get a solid win against the Lions.

“We're definitely looking to go all out and just prove ourselves.”

The Lions XV will definately test the Cheetahs as the feature players such as Andries Coetzee, Xander du Plessis, Johan Mulder, Jarod Cairns, Beertjie van Vuuren and Morgan Naude all in the starting team. Then on  the bench there are exciting youngsters such as Renzo du Plessis, Nico Steyn and Tyler Bocks.

Saturday’s game at Ellis Park kicks off at 11:30, while at 14:55 the Lions will tackle Zebre in the United Rugby Championship.

Lions XV - 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Erich Cronjé, 12 Xander du Plessis, 11 Boldwin Hansen, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Travis Gordon (captain), 7 Ruhan Straeuli, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Raynard Roets, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Beertjie van Vuuren, 2 Morné Brandon, 1 Morgan Naude

Replacements - 16 Jacque-Lois du Toit, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Luca Ribbens, 209 Izan Esterhuizen, 21 Sibusiso Sangweni, 22 Renzo du Plessis, 23 Nico Steyn, 24 Tyler Bocks, 25 Keagan Smith, 26 SJ Kotze

Cheetahs - 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Siba Xamlashe, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 George Lourens, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Friedle Olivier, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Justin Forwood, 2 Chucky van der Westhuizen, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.

Replacements - 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 19 Laurence Victor,20 Mzwanele Zito, 21 Daniel Maartens, 22 Jandré Nel, 23 Andell Loubser, 24 Ali Mgijima, 25 Sibabalo Qoma, 26 Oupa Mohoje.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport