Springbok Willem Alberts returns to the Emirates Lions side to boost their second-row stocks after recovering from a calf injury as the coaching team made four changes to the starting lineup for their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against Ulster on Saturday.
Alberts missed the start of the season after picking up the strain in pre-season but his return is timed nicely with the Lions' return from their overseas tour where they went unbeaten and are brimming with confidence going into Saturday’s clash.
The rest of the changes are all up front, and all seem to be rotational, as Jaco Visagie and JP Smith drop into the front row in the place of PJ Botha and Sti Sithole respectively while Emmanuel Tshituka comes into the loose trio alongside Ruan Venter and Francke Horn, with the hard-working Sibusiso Sangweni dropping to the bench in a straight swop.
The Lions will be bracing themselves for a physical clash as they face Ulster, who have dropped only one game in their last four, but have suffered three of their last five defeats in South Africa.
The Lions will also be hoping their 2pm kickoff in the Johannesburg heat will aid them as they look to continue their good start to the URC season.
Emirates Lions: Andries Coetzee; Quan Horn, Henco van Wyk, Marius Louw, Edwill van der Merwe; Gianni Lombard, Sanele Nohamba; Francke Horn, Ruan Venter, Emmanuel Tshituka, Reinhard Nothnagel (captain), Willem Alberts, Ruan Dreyer, Jaco Visagie, JP Smith.
Replacements: Sti Sithole, PJ Botha, Ruan Smith, Pieter Janse van Vuren, Sibusiso Sangweni, Morne van den Berg, Jordan Hendrikse, Zander du Plessis.