The Lions have preferred young winger Kelly Mpeku to Angelo Davids for their Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby match against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Mpeku gets the nod along with Eduan Keyter on the wings while some eyebrows were raised when Bronson Mills was selected at inside centre after being the centre of an off-field controversy in recent times that could well have legal implications.
Other than that the Lions have chosen their strongest side with former Bulls flyhalf Chris Smith in the pivot seat, while Quan Horn is at the back and Henco van Wyk in the midfield.
Francke Horn captains the side with Jarrod Cairns and Ruan Venter in the loose trio while former Griquas prop Eddie Davids will make his debut from the bench.
Lions: Quan Horn; Kelly Mpeku, Henco van Wyk, Bronson Mills, Eduan Keyter; Chris Smith, Nico Steyn; Francke Horn (captain), Ruan Venter, Jarod Cairns, Reinhard Nothnagel, Etienne Oosthuizen, RF Schoeman, Franco Marais, SJ Kotze.
Replacements: Morne Brandon, Eddie Davids, Conraad van Vuuren, Darrien Landsberg, Renzo du Plessis, Sibabalo Qoma, Hashim Pied, Gianni Lombard.