Lions coach John Mitchell has made three changes to the team that edged the Cheetahs last week for their Super Rugby clash with the Hurricanes in Johannesburg on Friday night.

Mitchell has included 22-year-old lock Stephan Greeff in the starting XV, after the team's disappointing showing in the line-outs in their tense 27-25 victory over the Cheetahs at the weekend.

This also follows on the injury blow to Wikus van Heerden, who is expected to miss three weeks of rugby due to a concussion he suffered after a tip tackle from Andries Strauss.

Hendrik Roodt, who replaced Van Heerden early in the match, is bracketed on the bench with Pumas lock Marius Coetzer, who is likely to get the nod ahead of Roodt, pending a fitness test.

In the other change to the pack captain Joshua Strauss moves to the side of the scrum where he replaces the experienced Cobus Grobbelaar to make way for the dynamic Warren Whiteley who will run out at No.8.

In the only change to the backline that did duty against the Cheetahs wing Michael Killian will receive his first start of the season, replacing Kiwi James Kamana who moves to the bench.

After the dramatic victory last week the Lions will want to score some tries and impose themselves on the visitors who are looking for a valuable away win.

Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 14 Doppies la Grange, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss (captain), 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Stephan Greeff, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Marius Coetzer/Hendrik Roodt, 19 Cobus Grobbelaar, 20 Tian Meyer, 21 Butch James, 22 James Kamana/Lionel Mapoe.

Date: Friday, March 2
Venue: Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa), Ben Crouse (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)