Lions reveal team for Griquas clash

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has made several changes to the side that will host Griquas at Ellis Park on Wednesday.

The front row sees Sti Sithole, Jaco Visagie and Jannie du Plessis all get their first starts of the Currie Cup season.

MJ Pelser will also make his first appearance.

In the backline, we see Morne van den Berg move up from the bench, while Jordan Hendrikse makes his Currie Cup debut. Burger Odendaal and Stean Pienaar also return to the fray.

On the bench, Andre Warner returns from injury (cheekbone) and FP Pelser will also await his return to Lions rugby.

If he gets a run-on, Under-21 captain, Travis Gordon will make his debut.

Lions: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 MJ Pelser, 5 Reinhardt Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole.

Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 FP Pelser, 20 Travis Gordon, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Duncan Matthews.

Date: Wednesday, July 21

Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Kick-off: 14.30 (12.30 GMT)

Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Assistant referees: Local appointments

TMO: Egon Seconds