Kwagga Smith will lead the Emirates Lions against the Cell C Sharks in Saturday's Super Rugby derby at Jonsson Kings Park, Durban, on Saturday
Regular captain Warren Whiteley is injured and stand-in skipper Malcolm Marx is being rested this week. Hooker Jan-Henning Campher has been handed a starting berth in Marx's absence.
It will be Campher's first start for the Lions since joining at the beginning of the year.
Scrumhalf Ross Cronje will undergo a small procedural operation which will keep him out of action for a week.
Emirates Lions team:
Andries Coetzee; Courtnall Skosan, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Aphiwe Dyantyi; Elton Jantjies, Nic Groom; Kwagga Smith ( captain), Cyle Brink, Marnus Schoeman, Marvin Orie, Stephan Lewies, Johannes Jonker, Jan-Henning Campher, Dylan Smith.
Reserves:
Pieter Jansen, Sti Sithole, Carlu Sadie, Reinhard Nothnagel, Vincent Tshituka, Hacjivah Dayimani, Shaun Reynolds, Tyrone Green.
African News Agency