Former Springbok Jannie du Plessis will lead out a much-changed Lions side in Wednesday’s Currie Cup showdown with Griquas in Kimberley.

Du Plessis takes over the captaincy duties from Asenathi Ntlabakanye, and the veteran prop has his work cut out for him motivating a young Lions team.

Coach Mzwakhe Nkosi has made nine changes to his starting XV that includes a new halfback pairing, James Tedder set to don the No 10 jersey and be partnered by scrumhalf Ginter Smuts. EW Viljoen will also provide much-needed experience at fullback.

Lunga Ncube and Simon Dinisio in the second row are the only settled combination from the Lions’ 66-14 caning by the Free State Cheetahs on 5 March.

Lions – 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Matt More, 11 Divan Rossouw, 10 James Tedder, 9 Ginter Smuts, 8 Emmanuel Tshituka, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Simon Dinisio, 4 Lunga Ncube, 3 Jannie du Plessis (c), 2 Morne Brandon, 1 JP Smith.
Subs: 16 Jacque-Louis du Toit, 17 Okuhle Siyeni, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 ML Pelser, 20 Mark Snyman, 21 Jurich Claasens, 22 Luke Rossouw, 23 James Mollentze.

State of the Currie Cup: Battle at the summit