Speedster Rabz Maxwane returns to the match-23 on the wing, which means that Quan Horn moves to fullback, in place of Andries Coetzee.

Upfront, Ruhan Straeuli replaces Ruan Venter at flanker, Ruben Schoeman comes in at lock for Willem Alberts, while the Emirates Lions will also field a new front in props Sti Sithole and Ruan Dreyer on either side of PJ Botha.

Two players will make their first appearances of the season from the bench, in Andre Warner (scrumhalf) and Asenathi Ntlabakanye (prop).

Sunday's match kicks off at 16h00 at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Emirates Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruhan Straeuli, 6 Emmanuel Tshituka, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (captain), 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 JP Smith, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Sibusiso Sangweni, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Zander du Plessis.