The Lions will head to Bloemfontein under the guidance of regular skipper Warren Whiteley.

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Fellow Springbok Lionel Mapoe will slot to right wing as cover for the absent Ruan Combrink, who is recovering from a shoulder operation.

While, Howard Mnisi will take up the role as outside centre.

Johannes Jonker will make his debut for the Lions if he takes the field. The 22-year-old prop joined the Lions from the Border Bulldogs.

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Howard Mnisi, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Ruan Ackermann, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.

Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Corné Fourie, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Albertus Smith, 21 Ross Cronjé, 22 Harold Vorster, 23 Jaco van der Walt.

Date: Saturday, February 25

Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Kick-off: 15.05 (13.05 GMT)

Referee: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)

TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

PV: 1