Bok Ruan Venter back for Lions for Sharks URC derby

The loose forward was suspended for four matches following a headshot on Sharks' fullback Aphelele Fassi in January. Now this weekend, Venter, a key member of the Lions squad, will pack down at flank with Siba Mahashe and captain Francke Horn and No.8.

Lock Darrien Landsberg will reach 50 caps for the Johannesburg-based side and starts alongside Ettienne Oosthuizen in the second row. Up front, Springbok behemoth Asenathi Ntlabakanye anchors the front row with PJ Botha and SJ Kotze.

Springbok livewire Morne van den Berg is at nine, while Chris Smith will look to ignite the potent backline that features Henco van Wyk, Quan Horn and former Sevens star Angelo Davids.

Lions - 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze.

Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 RF Schoeman, 18 Eddie Davids, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Erich Cronje.

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