Malcolm Marx rested for Crusaders encounter

Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has made four changes to the starting XV that will face defending champions Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday.

There is just one alteration to the pack. Robbie Coetzee will start at hooker with Malcolm Marx back in South Africa as part of the Springbok protocol which also sees the introduction of Jan-Henning Campher on the bench.

In the backline, Shaun Reynolds will start at fly-half after Gianni Lombard picked up an injury, with regular pivot Elton Jantjies once again selected at inside centre.

Ruan Combrinck gets a start in the number 15 jumper with Andries Coetzee out of the matchday 23 this week, while at scrum-half, Nic Groom rotates with Ross Cronje.

Lions: 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Elton Jantjies, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Sti Sithole
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Franco Naude, 23 Tyrone Green

Date: Friday, April 26
Venue: Christchurch Stadium
Kick-off: 19:35 local (08:35 BST, 07:35 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), James Munro (New Zealand)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)