Lions like their winning recipe

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Consistency is key for Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen.

He rewarded the performance of last week, going into the big Currie Cup clash against the Sharks at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Try scorers from the previous match all got the nod.

Veteran prop Jannie du Plessis and fellow seasoned Springbok Willem Alberts, along with scrumhalf André Warner get another run this week.

Two injury scares this week necessitates brackets on the team list.

Sithembiso Sithole and Vincent Tshituka have niggling injuries and will undergo late fitness tests.

Should they not be cleared, Dylan Smith and Wilhelm van der Sluys will move into the starting line-up.

Back in the mix are Burger Odendaal and Jamba Ulengo, who should both take to the field as impact players from the bench.

Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 André Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka/Wilhelm van der Sluys, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sithembiso Sithole/Dylan Smith.

Replacements - from: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Roelof Smit, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Burger Odendaal, 23 Jamba Ulengo, 24 Carlu Sadie, 25 Manuel Rass

Date: Saturday, December 19

Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)

Referee: Jaco Peyper

Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Aimee Barrett-Theron

TMO: Stuart Berry