Mziwakhe Nkosi has made multiple changes to the Lions team for their Currie Cup match against the Pumas at Ellis Park on Wednesday.

Following their 12-point loss to Western Province this past weekend, the Lions will be looking to bounce back in their second match of the tournament and their first home game.

There are three changes to the backline, where Manuel Rass and Tyler Bocks come in as the new midfield pairing and Ginter Smuts starts at scrumhalf.

Up front, Sibusiso Sangweni joins Jarod Cairns and Mark Snyman in the back row in the absence of Emmanuel Tshituka. Cains moves from the side of the scrum to No 8 to accommodate Sangweni at blindside flank.

Lock Lunga Ncube is fast-tracked into the team to plug the gap left by the injured Simon Dionisio and, this week, Morne Brandon is the starting hooker ahead of Dameon Venter.

Lions – 15 Quan Horn, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Zeilinga Strydom, 10 Vaughen Isaacs, 9 Ginter Smuts, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Mark Snyman, 5 Lunga Ncube, 4 PJ Steenkamp, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (c), 2 Morne Brandon, 1 Banele Mthenjane.
Subs: 16 Dameon Venter, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 Sibusiso Shongwe, 19 Ruan Venter, 20 MJ Pelser, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 James Tedder, 23 James Mollentze.