By Jacques van der Westhuyzen
Lions boss Eugene Eloff has put his faith in the same group of players who pulled off a 30-27 win against the Blue Bulls two weeks ago to tackle the Cheetahs in a crucial Absa Currie Cup match at Coca-Cola Park on Friday evening.
The winners of the match, one of only two fixtures in the competition this weekend, will go top of the points table.
Eloff has again picked regular flyhalf Michael Killian on the right wing, while first choice captain Ernst Joubert again has to settle for a place among the replacements.
The only newcomer to the squad who did not feature against the Bulls is front row replacement Ross Geldenhuys.
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But while Eloff has stuck with a tried and tested combination, his Cheetahs counterpart, Naka Drotske, has decided to gamble somewhat by picking SA U-20 star Wilton Pietersen on the right wing.
Pietersen, a former SA Schools and SA Sevens player, is a phenomenal talent and has only had game-time in the Currie Cup this season from the bench.
The youngster, however, shouldn't feel too much pressure as he'll be surrounded by a very experienced back division which includes Springboks Bevin Fortuin, Meyer Bosman and Chris Rossouw and SA Sevens team-mates Fabian Juries and another promising youngster, Robert Ebersohn.
Juries comes into the side in place of the veteran, Eddie Fredericks, who drops out completely, while Jacques-Louis Potgieter returns to the team as flyhalf cover after a few weeks playing for the Griffons.
The Cheetahs are currently in third place on the log with 27 points, while the Lions are fourth with 26 points. The Bulls are on top with 29 and the Sharks second with 28.
In the other fixture this weekend, Griquas host the Valke in Kimberley on Saturday.
TEAMS
Lions: Louis Ludik; Michael Killian, Jaco Pretorius, Doppies la Grange, Rayno Benjamin; Earl Rose, Jano Vermaak; Willem Alberts, Franco van der Merwe, Cobus Grobbelaar (capt); Gerhard Mostert, Anton van Zyl, Lawrence Sephaka, Willie Wepener, Heinke van der Merwe. Replacements: Ethienne Reynecke, Ross Geldenhuys, Ernst Joubert, Justin Wheeler, Chris Jonck, Louis Strydom, Jaco van Schalkwyk
Cheetahs: Bevin Fortuin; Wilton Pietersen, Robert Ebersohn, Meyer Bosman, Fabian Juries; Chris Rossouw, Tewis de Bruin; Duane Vermeulen, Kabamba Floors, Hendro Scholtz (capt); Barend Pieterse, David de Villiers, Kobus Caldo, Richardt Strauss, Wian du Preez. Replacements: Riaan Kruger, Philip Lemmer, Flip van der Merwe, Schalk van der Merwe, Neil Powell, JW Jonker, Jacques-Louis Potgieter
- This article was originally published on page 23 of The Star on August 21, 2008
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