Lions captain Warren Whiteley has failed a late fitness test and has been ruled out of their match against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday.

Whiteley, who has been struggling with a knee injury, is replaced in the starting lineup by Marnus Schoeman, who moves from the bench into the No 6 jersey.

As a result, Kwagga Smith will lead the side and start at No 8, rather than at openside flank.

Hacjivah Dayimani moves on to the bench as the loose forward replacement.

Lions – 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Elton Jantjies, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Kwagga Smith (c), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Sti Sithole.

Subs: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Nathan Mcbeth, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Ross Cronjé, 22 Franco Naude, 23 Tyrone Green.

Photo: @LionsRugbyCo/Twitter