Franco Mostert will return to flank for the Lions’ clash against the Waratahs in Sydney this Friday.

Mostert comes in at blindside flank for the injured Cyle Brink, with Marvin Orie shifting to No 5 and Andries Ferreira completing the second row. Notably, there is still no sign of Warren Whiteley, who continues to struggle with a knee injury.

The only other change to the starting lineup sees Jacques van Rooyen named at loosehead prop.

There are a couple of significant selections on the bench, where Nic Groom could make his Lions debut, while Rohan Janse van Rensburg returns from injury.

Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Franco Mostert (c), 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Subs: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Nic Groom, 22 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 23 Sylvian Mahuza.

Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix