Backline shuffle for Lions

The Golden Lions have had to shuffle their backline for their Currie Cup encounter with Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday.

Scrumhalf Michael Bondesio has been ruled out due to a calf injury and Ross Cronje makes it into the starting lineup in his place.

Experienced wing Deon van Rensburg will start at outside centre for Lionel Mapoe who has been called up to the Springbok squad and Alwyn Hollenbach makes a return from injury at inside centre with Dylan Des Fountain dropping to the bench.

Despite picking up an away win over Western Province last week, captain JC Janse van Rensburg said that there are still some areas in which the log leaders could improve.

"We've worked very hard on our defence and our set-phases because they're [Griquas] a very good team in the set-phases," Van Rensburg said.

The skipper said his side were already aiming to secure a home semifinal after a run of morale-boosting victories in recent weeks.

"The mood in the camp is excellent but it can change so quickly if we go to Griquas and we don't win that game," Van Rensburg said.

"It's a very important game for us and them. For us we're working towards a home semifinal. We're just focussing on what we want to do against them and not make the same mistakes we made earlier in the season," he added.

Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Deon Van Rensburg, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Ruan Combrinck, 10 Butch James, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Jaco Kriel, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco Van der Merwe, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JC Janse Van Rensburg (captain).

Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Willie Britz, 19 Derick Minnie, 20 Guy Cronje, 21 Dylan Des Fountain, 22 James Kamana.

Date: Saturday, October 6

Venue: GWK Park, Kimberley

Kick-off: 14.00 (12.00 GMT)

Referee: Mark Lawrence

Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, François de Bruin

TMO: Deon van Blommestein