WP hand young winger debut, name strong team to tackle Lions in Jozi

Western Province have named a strong team to face the Lions on Saturday with experienced prop Ali Vermaak and loose forward Junior Pokomela in the mix.

Also entering the fray will be Sazi Sandi, lock Adre Smith as well as winger Ebenezer Tshimanga, who will be on debut.

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Centre Rikus Pretorius makes his return on the replacements bench, having been sidelined with concussion.

WP head coach Jerome Paarwater said: "It is great to have some experience coming in for this game against what will be a motivated Sigma Lions side."We know that we will have to be at our best if we are to make it another win away from home, so we will need full focus for 80 minutes."

Kick-off on Friday is at 17:00.

WP:15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Ebenezer Tshimanga, 10 Timothy Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Junior Pokomela, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Nama Xaba (captain), 5 Adre Smith, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Jacques van Zyl, 1 Ali Vermaak

Substitutes: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 23 Rikus Pretorius