Vincent Tshituka will start at openside flank when the Lions take on the Stormers at Ellis Park in a Vodacom United Rugby Championship on Saturday.

Joining Tshituka in his return from injury is playmaker Jordan Hendrikse, who forms part of the matchday squad and could get an opportunity to feature as a replacement from the bench.

Elsewhere, inside centre Burger Odendaal is back in the starting XV after missing the trip to Pretoria last week due to concussion protocols. Seasoned prop JP Smith could get an opportunity to make his competition debut following his selection among the reserves.

Commenting on the inclusion of Tshituka and Hendrikse, Lions boss Ivan van Rooyen said it is a welcome return for his team.

“We are pleased to have Vince and Jordan back. They’ve recovered and trained well over the past few weeks, so we look forward to their involvement once more.”

Van Rooyen lauded the Lions’ attitude in last week’s performance against the Vodacom Bulls last week and he believes it bodes well for the match against the Stormers, who they beat in December.

“As a group we felt our overall attitude and intensity went up a notch against the Bulls. It’s the kind of momentum we’re eager to take into Saturday on the back of a positive week of training,” he concluded.

The match kicks off is at 3pm on Saturday.

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Lions – 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6. Jaco Kriel (c), 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Ruhan Straeuli, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Ruan Dreyer.
Subs: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 JP Smith, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Ruan Venter, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Jordan Hendrikse, 23 Wandisile Simelane.