The Lions will enter last-chance saloon in the EPCR Challenge Cup with an extra spring in their step after the return to the starting line-up of centre Henco van Wyk and Bok flank Ruan Venter - two of their standout players, for tomorrow’s clash against the Dragons (5.15pm kickoff).
The prize on offer is a place in the round of 16.
The Joburg side lost 28-5 away to pool leaders Montpellier last weekend, their second defeat in three pool matches, yet miraculously remain in play-off contention on their return to Ellis Park.
They are fifth in their pool, level on five points with the Dragons yet one spot below them, and will be hoping to douse the Welsh side’s fire with the return of some of their star performers, including Springbok scrumhalf Morne “Krappies” van den Berg.
He replaces last week’s captain Marius Louw while Tapiwa Mafura will take the place of youngster Kelly Mpeku on the wing.
With few people giving them a chance of an upset over the the high-flying Montpellier, coach Ivan van Rooyen gambled on a largely untested side for the trip to the south of France, possibly in the hope that the Lions would have one last crack at the play-offs in the last pool match.
The fates have conspired to give them that shot, and the Lions are keen to sink their teeth into it judging by the well-balanced squad full of attacking intent and experience that is likely to let the ball fly once again on their home turf.
Bok fullback Quan Horn returned from injury for last weekend’s game and should help dictate play for the Lions.
The hard-running Venter comes in for Izan Esterhuizen on the flank.
No 8 Francke Horn takes over the captain’s armband from centre Marius Louw, while JC Pretorius gets the nod in the loose trio, having started on the bench in Saturday’s encounter, with Jarod Cairns providing cover.
Gianni Lombard also gets a chance from the bench.
The Dragons will be smarting from Sunday’s scrappy 24-15 home loss against Pau that ensured the French team’s progression to the play-offs in third place in the group and turned tomorrow’s clash on the highveld into a straight shoot-out for the fourth and final play-off spot.
The absence of skipper Aaron Wainwright, the Wales No 8, is a major blow to their hopes, and they have recalled Aneurin Owen to the midfield to captain the side boasting seven changes from the loss against Pau, according to the Welsh club’s website.
His duel with Van Wyk and Rynhardt Jonker in the Lions midfield promises to be one of the interesting subplots of a game with so much riding on it.
Lions Team
15 Quan Horn 14 Tapiwa Mafura 13 Henco van Wyk 12 Rynhardt Jonker 11 Edwill van der Merwe 10 Sam Francis 9 Morne van den Berg 8 Francke Horn (captain) 7 Ruan Venter 6 JC Pretorius 5 Darrien Landsberg 4 Etienne Oosthuizen 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye 2 PJ Botha 1 Juan Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie 17 SJ Kotze 18 RF Schoeman 19 Ruan Delport 20 Jarod Cairns 21 Nico Steyn 22 Gianni Lombard 23 Manuel Rass.