Lions hoping for a front row reprieve

With their front row stocks severely depleted through injuries, there was a glimmer of hope that hooker Malcolm Marx and prop Julian Redelinghuys could be available for the encounter with the New Zealand franchise at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Marx, who suffered a soft tissue injury of his neck against the Stormers 10 days ago, and Redelinghuys, who sprained his right wrist in the same match, are "recovering well".

Depending on how well they progress this week they may undergo fitness tests on Thursday to see if they can play this weekend.

This morsel of good news followed on a day when Lions team doctor Rob Collins confirmed that prop Ruan Dreyer will undergo an operation on Tuesday.

Dreyer fractured his right wrist in the 45-10 Super Rugby win over the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth last Saturday. He will be out of action for six months.

Dreyer was the only major casualty from the trip to Port Elizabeth, although there are the usual "bumps and bruises".

The Lions are also still without hooker Robbie Coetzee, who underwent knee surgery late last month to repair cartilage after a knock on the knee earlier in the season.

He will be out of action for approximately four months.