Gianni Lombard will start at flyhalf in one of four changes to the Lions starting lineup for the clash with the Glasgow Warriors in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has largely stuck with the same combinations that beat Cardiff last week at Ellis Park in the Vodacom URC.

Lombard and right winger Rabz Maxwane have replaced Sanele Nohamba and Richard Kriel, respectively. Nohamba is set to provide an impact with fellow versatile playmaker Jordan Hendrikse as part of a six-two split on the bench.

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The remaining changes are in the forward pack, as blindside flanker Emmanuel Tshituka returns to the starting XV, while Morgan Naude comes in for Ruan Dreyer at loosehead prop.

With two rounds of the regular season remaining in the URC, Van Rooyen’s troops are in 10th place, while Glasgow lead the race to the final eight from pole position.

Lions – 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Marius Louw (c), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Morgan Naude.
Subs: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Ruan Venter, 21 Hanru Sirgel, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Jordan Hendrikse.

Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images