Bulls roll out six Junior Springboks as they seek first Currie Cup victory

Fresh from their 52-29 victory over the Pumas at Ellis Park last week, the men from Doornfontein head into the weekend with a winning mindset against a Bulls side who are yet to register a win in this year's campaign.

Mziwakhe Nkosi's men will be boosted by the return of talented Junior Springbok fullback Gilermo Mentoe, who makes his first appearance in Lions colours at senior level. The former Bishops schoolboy is joined by another Junior Springbok and Wynberg Boys High old boy Asad Moos, who gets a start at scrumhalf.

Speaking ahead of Saturday, Nkosi was cautious about taking a relaxed approach against their neighbours, despite their rough start to the competition.

"We would be silly to take the Bulls lightly this Saturday," he told the Lions' website.

"They have outstanding players, coupled with a good coaching staff and probably have just had rough draw in the competition by playing their first two games away from home, including the upcoming fixture.

"I have no doubt that they'll be up for the challenge. In fact, the last time we played against the Bulls (with the same management team), we lost against them in the U23 Cup final at 10bet Ellis Park. There is little to no chance of us taking them lightly."

Meanwhile, the Bulls welcome back six Junior Springboks to the matchday 23. Siphosethu Mnebelele, Kebotile Maake, Heinrich Theron, Hendre Schoeman, Aka Boqwane and Thomas Beling all return after helping the Junior Boks lift the U20 World Championship trophy in Georgia.

Experienced lock Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg leads the men from Pretoria who are still seeking their fist win of the campaign.

Maake, Theron, Boqwane, Schoeman, Lindsey Jansen, Johnathan Eloff and Lavela Pongolo are set to make their Currie Cup debuts.

Lions - 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Keagan Smith, 13 Likhona Finca, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Asad Moos, 8 Morne Venter, 7 Jarod Cairns, 6 Thando Biyela, 5 Ruan Delport (c), 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Mahle Sithole, 1 Morgan Naude.

Replacements: 16 Ruan Welman, 17 Cecil Parsons, 18 Ruan Swart, 19 Marco Ferreira, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Zian Cilliers, 22 Matthew Coetzee, 23 Exauce Kevani.

Bulls - 15 Devon Williams, 14 Riyaad Bam, 13 Hakeem Kunene, 12 Christiaan Viok, 11 Lindsey Jansen, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Hendre Schoeman, 8 Thomas Beling, 7 Heinrich Theron, 6 Kebotile Maake, 5 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (c), 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Dian Coetzee, 2 Jaundre Schoeman, 1 Damian Baker.

Replacements: 16 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Johnathan Eloff, 20 Abongile Nonkontwana, 21 Cephas van Biljon, 22 Aka Boqwane, 23 Lavela Pongolo

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