Willem Alberts has been withdrawn from the Lions team to face the Stormers following confirmation that he was in close contact with someone who has Covid-19.

Alberts was set to start at lock on Saturday, but the Lions confirmed on Friday that the 36-year-old is unavailable as he will have to go into quarantine.

‘Please take note that Willem Alberts was in close contact with a Covid-19 case and will therefore go into quarantine. Alberts was tested on Monday and cleared,’ read the Lions statement.

He will be replaced by Ruben Schoeman in the starting lineup.

Updated Lions team – 15 EW Viljoen; 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Burger Odendaal, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Sibahle Maxwane, 10 Elton Jantjies (c), 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole.
Subs: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 MJ Pelser, 21 Hacjivah Dayimani, 22 Ross Cronje, 23 Gianni Lombard, 24 Wandisile Simelane, 25 Ruan Dreyer.

Photo: Lions Rugby/Gallo Images