Golden Lions flank Kwagga Smith and centre Harold Vorster will start against Griquas in Kimberley on Friday.

Smith was suspended following an incident of reckless play in the Super Rugby final last month. His return sees a reshuffle in the back row, with Cyle Brink moving to blindside flank and Fabian Booysen dropping to the bench.

Lions coach Swys de Bruin has made a number of other changes. Vorster’s inclusion at No 12 sees Rohan Janse van Rensburg moving to No 13. Jaco van der Walt, Sylvian Mahuza, and Anthony Volmink comprise the new back three.

Up front, Jacobie Adriaanse replaces tighthead Ruan Dreyer, who has linked up with the Springboks in Australia. Rhyno Herbst will start at lock in place of Andries Ferreira, whose wife is expected to give birth to the couple’s second child later this week.

Golden Lions – 15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen (c).
Subs: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Fabian Booysen, 21 Branco du Preez, 22 Aphiwe Dyantyi.

Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images