Emirates Lions have made one forced change to their match 23 for their trip down to Cape Town for their Vodacom United Rugby Championship (VURC) fixture against the DHL Stormers.
Besides the late withdrawal of Springbok tighthead Ruan Dreyer due to an injury concern, head coach Ivan van Rooyen maintained the same side who would have done duty against Welsh outfit Cardiff Rugby last week Sunday at Emirates Airline Park which ended in a postponement.
The Emirates Lions mentor expressed his side’s disappointment after not having played last week’s fixture but praised his troops for their positive spirit this week as they prepare for the local derby.
“We’re quite pleased that an arrangement was made by SARU and the URC for local games to be played this weekend after last week’s uncertainty,” said van Rooyen
“Despite a change in opposition, we have prepared well and made the mental shift ahead of the match down in Cape Town on Saturday,” he concluded.
Experienced prop Jannie du Plessis comes in as cover for the injured Dreyer in a match that will see speedster Edwill van der Merwe make his Emirates Lions debut against his former franchise.
Emirates Lions: 15. EW Viljoen 14. Edwill van der Merwe 13. Wandisile Simelane 12. Burger Odendaal (c) 11. Rabz Maxwane 10. Fred Zeilinga 9. Andre Warner 8. Francke Horn 7. Vincent Tshituka 6. Jaco Kriel 5. Reinhard Nothnagel 4. Ruben Schoeman 3. Carlu Sadie 2. Jaco Visagie 1. Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16. Pieter Jacobus Botha 17. Morgan Naude 18. Jannie du Plessis 19. Willem Alberts 20. Ruhan Straeuli 21. Morne van den Berg 22. Matt More 23. Tiaan Swanepoel.