Venter may yet wing his way to Sydney

Wickus Venter goes to Windhoek with the Lions knowing that if he comes through Saturday's Vodacom Cup match against Namibia, he still stands a chance of being on board Sunday's aircraft flying the Cats to Sydney for the start of their four Super 12 matches on tour.

Venter plays his first full match since breaking a bone in his face during a Cats' warm-up friendly in Bloemfontein but the injury has responded so well and the young centre is so keen to make the tour that Cats' coach Laurie Mains - impressed by Venter's attitude - has not ruled him out of a late inclusion in his squad.

That decision will only be made on Sunday morning once he receives a match report from Lions' coach Hugo van As.

After last week's shock defeat by the Falcons, the defending champions need to get back on track with a resounding win and an impressive team performance. Returning Cats' players like Venter and Springbok prop Adrian Garvey will bolster the Lions as will former Springbok lock, Hannes Strydom, back after injury.

He assumes the captaincy and together with Garvey, the stalwart lock gives the Lions scrum a much more solid base. The Lions will be too strong for Namibia whose struggles last year won't be improved by the loss of another eight of their top players to various SA provinces.

The Lions won't be taking anything for granted but they should come back with a fullhouse five points and their confidence restored. The Falcons will start as strong afvourites to beat Griquas at Brakpan's Bosman Stadium after whipping the Lions at Ellis Park last Friday while the Bulls will have ehtir hands full at home against the fast improving Pumas.

Fixtures on Friday night - North West Leopards v NFS Griffons at Potchefstroom TV: SS 2 at 7.15pm live; Western Province v FS Cheetahs at Newlands. TV: SABC 3 7pm delayed.

On Saturday: Boland Cavaliers v Eastern Province Elephants at Wellington; SWD Eagles v Natal Sharks at George; Falcons v Griquas at Brakpan; Blue Bulls v Mpumalanga Pumas at Pretoria. TV: SABC 3 at 3.15pm live; Lions v Namibia at Windhoek. All these games kickoff at 3.30pm.

Lions team to play in Windhoek - Jaco Booysen; Kaya Malotana, Wickus Venter, Mac Masina, Dean Hall; Andfre Pretorius, Grant Bartle; Russell Winter, Eric van der Merwe, Walter Minnaar, Hannes Strydom (c), Francois du Toit, Adrian Garvey, Michael Laubscher, Nick Moore. Bench: Johnnny Wearne, Gordon Frasca, Jacques van Niekerk, Greg Bruwer, Bruce Thorne, Kapsok van Greuning, Eben Herselman.