Helberg takes centre stage

Injuries forced Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann to make several changes to his team ahead of their Currie Cup crunch match with the Blue Bulls.

The team for the trans-Jukskei derby at Ellis Park on Saturday shows eight changes to the starting XV, four of those injury related and two positional switches.

In the midfield Robert du Bruyn suffered an ankle injury in the loss to the Cheetahs last week, which will most likely sideline him for the rest of the season.

Deon Helberg moves from the bench to the outside centre position.

He will be partnered in midfield by Dylan Des Fountain, who has been struggling with a hand injury this week, but has been cleared to play.

The other backline change sees Ross Cronjé taking over at scrumhalf from the injured Tian Meyer.

Star loose forward Willie Britz has been sidelined with a back spasms, resulting in a complete reshuffle of the back row.

Captain Derick Minnie moves from the flank to No.8, with Jaco Kriel and Warwick Tecklenburg the flanks.

Young lock Ruan Venter injured his knee ligaments and may also miss the rest of the season. His place in the second row has been taken by Stephan Greeff, with fit again Chris van Zyl providing cover off the bench.

The rotational changes will see a revamped front row - Robbie Coetzee at hooker and Ruan Dreyer at tighthead prop, in place of Willie Wepener and Jacobus Roux.

Golden Lions: 15 Marnitz Boshoff, 14 Andries Coetzee, 13 Deon Helberg, 12 Dylan des Fountain, 11 Anthony Volminck, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Derick Minnie (capt), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Stephan Greeff, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 CJ van der Linde

Replacement: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Chris van Zyl, 19 Lambert Groenewald, 20 Guy Cronje, 21 Lionel Cronje, 22 Ruhan Nel.

Date: Saturday, September 21

Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)

Referee: Stuart Berry

Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Cobus Wessels

TMO: Tappe Henning