The Lions have made just one change to their starting lineup for Saturday’s derby against the Stormers at Ellis Park.

Coach Ivan van Rooyen has dropped Duncan Matthews from the match-day squad altogether and brought in 21-year-old Manuel Rass to start at outside centre alongside Dan Kriel.

Loosehead prop Dylan Smith will reach a big milestone, earning his 50th Vodacom Super Rugby cap.

There’s a lot of movement of the bench, where new recruit Willem Alberts has been confirmed as a reserve after initially being bracketed with Ruan Vermaak, Hacjivah Dayimani returns from an injury layoff via the reserves and Wandisile Simelane is set for his long-awaited first game of the season if he comes on as a substitute later.

Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Tyrone Green, 13 Manie Rass, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (c), 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Pieter Jansen, 1 Dylan Smith.
Subs: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Hacjivah Dayimani, 22 Dillon Smit, 23 Wandisile Simelane.

Photo: Lions Rugby