Returning trio start for Lions

Elton Jantjies has been slotted straight into the Lions starting XV for Friday's promotion-relegation clash against the Kings in PE.

Elton Jantjies, Franco van der Merwe and Martin Bezuidenhout have all been slotted straight into the Lions starting XV for Friday's Super Rugby promotion-relegation clash against the Kings in Port Elizabeth.

Lions coach Johan Ackermann has wasted no time in calling on the trio, who returned to Ellis Park on Monday after loan spells at the Stormers (Jantjies and Bezuidenhout) and the Sharks (Van der Merwe) for the first game of the two-match series.

In more good news for the visitors to Mandela Bay Stadium, scrum-half Michael Bondesio and loose forwards Warren Whiteley, Jaco Kriel and Derrick Minnie also return from injury while lock Hendrik Roodt has recovered from German measles.

The return fixture is in Johannesburg on August 3.

Lions: 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Nicolaas Hanekom, 12 Dylan des Fountain, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Willie Britz, 19 Warwick Tecklenburg, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Marnitz Boshoff, 22 Chrysander Botha.

Date: Friday, July 26
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Jason Jaftha, Sindile Mayende
TMO: Deon van Blommestein