The Emirates Lions have received a big boost as several players make their returns from injuries for their clash against the Waratahs on Saturday.
Warren Whiteley will lead the side with the loose trio also featuring a return for promising 20-year-old flanker Vincent Tshituka who made an incredible start to his Super Rugby season before being ruled out of their tour with injury.
The backline sees Courtnall Skosan return after he took leave for personal reasons to be with his ill father while Harold Vorster will start in the midfield to partner Lionel Mapoe. On the bench, Dylan Smith has been included after missing out on the tour which saw the Lions front row stake a very big claim as one of the most powerful front threes in the competition.
The Lions won just on their three matches on tour and will be looking forward to being back at Ellis Park which has been a fortress in recent times even though they lost their last match there to the Sharks 42-5.
Emirates Lions: 15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Courtnall Skosan, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12.Harold Vorster, 11. Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Ross Cronje, 8. Warren Whiteley ©, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 6. Kwagga Smith, 5. Marvin Orie, 4. Stephan Lewies, 3. Carlu Sadie, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Sti Sithole.
Bench: 16. Jan-Henning Campher, 17. Dylan Smith, 18. Johannes Jonker, 19. Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20. Marnus Schoeman, 21. Nic Groom, 22. Shaun Reynolds, 23. Tyrone Green
