Unbeaten Cheetahs name strong team to tackle Lions

Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie has named a strong team to tackle the Lions in a Currie Cup clash in Johannesburg on Friday.

The Cheetahs' 28-21 win over Western Province in Cape Town on 15 April was their seventh consecutive win.

They trail the Bulls by one point on the Currie Cup standings but have a game in hand.

In the backline, Duncan Saal returns from injury to take the No 11 jersey from Rosko Specman, who is tying the knot this weekend.

Up front, the back row is tweaked with Mihlali Mosi starting at No 8 and Jeandre Rudolph moving to No 7 flank.

The other changes are in the front row where Marnus van der Merwe replaces Louis van der Westhuizen at hooker and Cameron Dawson cracks the nod at loosehead ahead of Alulutho Tshakweni.

Reinhardt Fortuin will start against at flyhalf, with Siya Masuku featuring on the bench after missing the WP clash due to illness.

Friday's clash at Ellis Park kicks off at 19:00.

Lions

15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Manuel Rass, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Andre Warner (captain), 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Cal Smid, 4 Lunga Ncube, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 JP Smith

Substitutes: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Junior White, 20 Lindo Ncusane, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Luke Rossouw, 23 Ilunga Mukendi

Cheetahs

15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Duncan Saal, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Mihlali Mosi, 7 Jeandre Rudolph, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekeke, 4 Aidon Davis, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Cameron Dawson  

Substitutes: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Marne Coetzee, 19 Ockie Barnard, 20