The Emirates Lions have returned their Springbok lock Willem Alberts to the starting lineup for their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against the Vodacom Bulls on Saturday.
Alberts will replace Pieter Jansen van Vuren, who suffered a pectoral muscle injury during training this week and will be out for an undetermined period.
Alberts aggressive nature and his bulk will help the Lions against their neighbouring foes, who will be desperate to beat them this week to get their URC campaign back on track.
Junior Springbok Ruan Venter comes onto the bench to cover lock and will be keenly watched by the coaching staff after showing some excellent form of late.
"I feel for Pieter. He worked so hard to come back from his knee injury he suffered on tour. We wish him a speedy recovery from this latest setback,” coach Ivan van Rooyen said.
"The opportunity now awaits Ruan, who's had a fantastic past few months, including a SA Rugby U20 Cup winner’s medal. He could possibly get his chance on Saturday."
"Providing opportunities to young players is a common theme for us here at the franchise and it’s something we pride ourselves in."
"In the same breath, the entire squad buys into what we are trying to achieve in the VURC , so everyone plays a key part towards that goal."
With Jaco Visagie also joining the injured list after the loss to the Sharks, PJ Botha comes in, while Emmanuel Tshituka leapfrogs from the bench into the starting lineup to take over the seven jersey while his brother Vincent nurses his injury.
Morne Brandon, Ruhan Straeuli and Sibusiso Sangweni complete the new additions to the replacements.
The Lions will be brimming with confidence after going toe to toe with the Sharks last weekend and even though they lost, the 37 points they put on the board showed the potency of their attack.
EMIRATES LIONS: EW Viljoen, Edwill van der Merwe, Wandisile Simelane, Burger Odendaal (captain), Rabs Maxwane; Fred Zeilinga, Andre Warner; Francke Horn, Emmanuel Tshituka. Jaco Kriel, Willem Alberts, Ruben Schoeman, Carlu Sadie, PJ Botha, Sti Sithole
Replacements: Morne Brandon, Morgan Naude, Ruan Dreyer, Ruan Venter, Ruhan Straeuli, Sibusiso Sangweni, Morne van den Berg, Tiaan Swanepoel.