Fidelity ADT Lions hooker Jaco Visagie will lead the side in their next Currie Cup battle against the Novavit Griffons at Emirates Airline Park on Friday afternoon (kick off 3pm).
Visagie, who celebrated his 50th cap last weekend against the Pumas, has been handed the captain’s armband after Travis Gordon was elevated into the Vodacom United Rugby Championship side that is currently in Italy.
There is a new loose trio as well, as Sibusiso Sangweni, Ruhan Straeuli and Jarrod Cairns form a talented back row.
In a surprise move Stean Pienaar moves from wing to outside centre and will partner Tyler Bocks in the midfield.
Young scrumhalf Nico Steyn gets a start, while Tiaan Swanepoel moves back into the starting line-up after being on the bench against the Pumas.
FIDELITY ADT LIONS: Tiaan Swanepoel; Boldwin Hansen, Steam Pienaar, Tyler Bocks, Ilunga Mkendi; Vaughan Isaacs, Nico Steyn; Jarrod Cairns, Ruhan Straeuli, Sibusiso Sangweni, Darrian-Lane Landsberg, Raynard Roets, Ruan Smith, Jaco Visagie (captain), Sti Sithole.
Replacements: Michael van Vuuren, Morgan Naude, Kabous Bezuidenhout, PJ Steenkamp, Pieter Jansen van Vuren, Renzo du Plessis, Kelly Mpeku, Jurich Claassens.