The Lions have named a young starting lineup for Friday's final pre-season match against the Jaguares at Wits.

In a total overhaul of the side that lost 28-24 to the Bulls in Polokwane last weekend, coach Johan Ackermann has named No 5 lock MB Lusaseni as captain in the absence of both Warren Whiteley and Jaco Kriel. 

In the backline, Harold Vorster makes his long-awaited comeback from injury and will start in the midfield alongside Stokkies Hanekom, while Marnitz Boshoff is at flyhalf and Dillon Smit at No 9.

Up front, props Pieter Scholtz and Corné Fourie will scrum down either side of hooker Akker van der Merwe, who is back from a stint abroad.

Ackermann named a 16-man bench, including regular starters Malcolm Marx, Jacques van Rooyen, Lourens Erasmus and Martin Muller.

Lions – 15 John-Wessel Bell, 14 Koch Marx, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Stephan de Witt, 5 MB Lusaseni, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Corné Fourie.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Bobby de Wee, 21 Martin Muller, 22 Ramone Samuels, 23 Fabian Booysen, 24 Ruaan Lerm, 25 Jaco van der Walt, 26 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 27 Jacques Nel, 28 Ashlon Davids, 29 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 30 Ricky Schroeder, 31 Selom Gavor.

Photo: Duif du Toit/Gallo Images