The match at Emirates Airline Park, where both teams will be looking to break their competition duck, kicks off at 13h00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport. It’s the Emirates Lions’ first home game of the competition.

Odendaal takes over at inside centre from Dan Kriel, who led the team in the last fortnight, while Alberts, with 43 Springbok caps to his name, will bring considerable experience to the side after he has recovered from an injury niggle and has been included on the bench, from where he can cover lock and loose forward.

Apart from the change at inside centre, Van Rooyen made two more changes to his starting team – Jordan Hendrikse gets an opportunity at flyhalf in place of Fred Zeilinga, while Jaco Visagie will start at hooker, swapping places with PJ Botha.

Zeilinga and Botha join Alberts and Kriel on the bench, where Springbok prop Ruan Dreyer also makes a return to the Emirates Lions’ match-day squad.

Jan-Henning Campher (hooker), Stean Pienaar (wing), Sibusiso Sangweni (loose forward), Wilhelm van der Sluys (lock) and Tiaan Swanepoel (fullback) were not considered for selection due to injuries.

Emirates Lions: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 André Warner, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 MJ Pelser, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Dan Kriel.

Match information
Date: Saturday, 15 May 2021
Time: 13h30
Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant Referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Morne Ferreira
Television Match Official: Stuart Berry
TV: SuperSport Grandstand and Rugby channels