Lions name new front row for WP

Dylan Smith will start in the front row for the table-topping, unbeaten Lions.

Smith replaces Jacques van Rooyen, while Julian Redelinghuys also gets a start ahead of Ruan Dreyer - as part of the rotational system employed by coach Johan Ackermann.

In the backline Anthony Volmink replaces injured Ruan Combrink on the right wing - with Combrinck set to go under the knife on Wednesday to repair his damaged knee.

He has been ruled out for the rest of the year.

Rohan Janse van Rensburg starts at centre in place of Nicolaas Hanekom, who drops down to the replacement bench.

Sampie Mostert, who joined the Lions from the Bulls at the start of the year, comes onto the bench to fill the void left by Volmink's promotion to the starting XV.

Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Stephan de Witt, 6 Jaco Kriel (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith.

Replacements: 16 Mark Pretorius, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Fabian Booysen, 19 Albertus Smith, 20 Jaco van der Walt, 21 Nicolaas Hanekom, 22 Sampie Mastriet.

Date: Friday, October 2

Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Kick-off: 18.00 (16.00 GMT)

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Assistant referees: Jason Jaftha, Lourens van der Merwe

TMO: Johan Greeff