Ivan van Rooyen’s team will face Irish giants Leinster at the Aviva in Dublin on Saturday (30/5), a team they faced three weeks ago in the round-robin stages at the same venue. Skipper Francke Horne and centre Henco van Wyk have been cleared and are fit to face Leo Cullen’s Leinster.

Scrumhalf Nico Steyn starts in place of the injured Morné van den Berg, who is recovering from a bicep injury, while Erich Cronje returns to the left wing after missing out against Munster. Experienced hooker Franco Marias returns to the fold as an impact player alongside Rynhardt Jonker and Haashim Pead.

Kick-off at the Aviva is at 21:00 SA time.

Lions 23 to take on Leinster: SJ Kotze, PJ Botha, Sebastian Lombard, Reinhard Nothnagel, Darrien Landsberg, Siba Mahashe, Batho Hlekani, Francke Horn (captain), Nico Steyn, Chris Smith, Erich Cronje, Richard Kriel, Henco van Wyk, Angelo Davids, Quan Horn, Franco Marais, Eddie Davids, RF Schoeman, Ruan Delport, Siba Qoma, JC Pretorius (50th), Rynhard Jonker, Haashim Pead

Significant changes

Meanwhile, the Bulls have made several significant changes to their match-day 23 for their quarterfinal URC match against Munster at Loftus Versfeld, with Johan Ackermann recalling experience and proven big-match performers for the knockout clash.

The most notable changes from the side that faced Benetton come in the backline, where Kurt-Lee Arendse returns on the wing in place of Devon Williams, while Stravino Jacobs is promoted from the bench to the starting XV ahead of Sergeal Petersen. 

In the pack, captain Marcell Coetzee, back from illness, comes into the loose trio for Jeandre Rudolph, adding vast playoff and Test experience alongside Cameron Hanekom and Elrigh Louw.

Bulls 23 to face Munster: Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Wilco Louw, Ruan Vermaak, Ruan Nortje, Marcell Coetzee (captain), Elrigh Louw, Cameron Hanekom, Embrose Papier, Handre Pollard, Stravino Jacobs, Harold Vorster, Canan Moodie, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Willie le Roux, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Francois Klopper, Cobus Wiese, Jeandre Rudolph, Paul de Wet, Stedman Gans, Sergeal Petersen

And Ruhan Nel will make his return from injury and captain the Stormers in their URC quarterfinal against Cardiff at DHL Stadium on Saturday. He is joined by experienced backs Seabelo Senatla and Dan du Plessis in the only changes to the starting line-up for the big knock-out clash, which kicks off at 15:30.

Stormers 23 to face Cardiff: Ntuthuko Mchunu, André-Hugo Venter, Neethling Fouché, Adré Smith, Ruben van Heerden, Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Evan Roos, Imad Khan, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Leolin Zas, Dan du Plessis, Ruhan Nel (captain), Seabelo Senatla, Damian Williams, JJ Kotzé, Vernon Matongo, Zachary Porthen, Salmaan Moerat, Ruan Ackermann, Marcel Theunissen, Stefan Ungerer, Jurie Matthee

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg