Lions continue to 'experiment'

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen continued with his experimentation, as his team heads into their last match of the Preparation Series - against the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.

Changes are abound - with a new hooker, new locks, new loose-trio and some changes among the backs as well.

EW Viljoen returns to action after recovering from the knee injury he sustained in February and he takes up his regular position at fullback.

The coach is "excited" about the youngsters who have come through the Lions ranks - none more so than big prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, who will get game-time from the bench.

Recent import Fred Zeilinga also gets another nod to prove his skills as a replacement.

Lions: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Sibahle Maxwane, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 Ross Croné, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Pieter Botha, 1 Ruan Dreyer.

Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 MJ Pelser, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Burger Odendaal.

Date: Saturday, March 27

Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town

Kick-off: 17.15 (15.15 GMT)

Referee: Adriaan Jacobs

Assistant referees: Divan Uys, Dylan November

TMO: Aimee Barrett-Theron