Burger Odendaal will captain a Lions team packed with Vodacom United Rugby Championship regulars in the local Currie Cup derby against the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

Out of the running for the URC playoffs, the Lions have named a powerful starting lineup to break their Currie Cup losing streak.

TEAM: Bismarck back for Bulls in Jukskei derby

Among the senior players brought into the starting XV are halfback pair Jordan Hendrikse and Morne van den Berg, fullback Quan Horn, wing Edwill van der Merwe, centre Wandisile Simelane and No 8 Francke Horn.

An experienced tight five sees Reinhard Nothnagel and Ruben Schoeman form the second-row combination, while Jaco Visagie is joined in the front row by props Ruan Dreyer and Sti Sithole.

Lions – 15 Quan Horn, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal (c), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole.
Subs: 16 PJ Botha, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Cal Smid, 20 Jarod Cairns, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Henco van Wyk, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel.

Photo: Matteo Ciambelli/INPHO/Shutterstock