Scrum guru Julian Redelinghuys hopes Lions are over their URC SA derby blues

Lions scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys said Saturday's United Rugby Championship opener against the Bulls at Ellis Park will be a Test of whether they've got over their South African derby hoodoo.

The Lions, who were the worst of the SA teams, only won one of their South African derbies against the three other teams.

The side they beat were eventual champions, the Stormers, who didn't lose a South African derby after being burgled at home by the Lions at the end of 2020.

The Lions served up some of their most turgid performances against their local foes, but often and successfully bared their teeth for the overseas teams.

Redelinghuys said the familiarity of the SA players played a role in them being slack from an intensity perspective in SA derbies.

"We've also done some delving into why we struggled against South African teams," Redelinghuys said.

"The big thing is that if you focus on yourself, you don't worry too much about what the opposition does, regardless of who it is.

"However, it is natural that when you face the South African teams, they are guys you may have played with and grown up with.

"We just need to focus on ourselves and that's been the massive drive for us. We just need to do what we can do and control the controllables."

The Lions, who will be captained by lock Reinhard Nothnagel, will be without veteran forwards Jaco Kriel and Willem Alberts.

Redelinghuys said they were mending from their respective injuries and should be on the field soon.

"Jaco had a bit of a scare as he was in hospital, but he's getting better very quickly now. He's seeing a specialist on Friday," Redelinghuys said.

"Willem's getting stronger and it's 'lekker' having him back on the field. The impact he's having on the guys is immense