Lions captain Joshua Strauss has been ruled out of Saturday's Currie Cup match against the Sharks as a precaution, the team's coach John Mitchell confirmed on Friday.
The big loose forward picked up a rib injury in last week's match against Western Province and was given until the last hour to prove his fitness.
"Josh showed good recovery during the week, but we decided it was better not to risk him at this stage," said Mitchell.
Strauss' place in the team will be filled by Warren Whiteley while flank Jaco Kriel has been included in the Lions' list of replacements.
The squad will now be led by lock Franco van der Merwe, who happened to score the winning try the last time the Lions faced the Sharks in a Currie Cup match.
Revised Lions team: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe (captain), 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Doppies La Grange, 22 Burton Francis.
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