By Jacques van der Westhuyzen
Lions boss Dick Muir is hoping his decision to rest several first-choice players last weekend pays big dividends when his team tackle the Waratahs in the Super 14 in Sydney on Friday.
Back in the starting team after last week's 24-13 defeat to the Brumbies are, among others, Heinke van der Merwe, Hannes Franklin, Franco van der Merwe, Carlos Spencer, Wandile Mjekevu and Earl Rose.
New arrivals in Sydney this week, scrumhalf Jano Vermaak and wing Wigan Pekeur, have also been rushed straight into the action as both will fill places on the bench.
While Pekeur's selection is something of an enforced one, it is rather surprising Muir has opted for Vermaak ahead of livewire Jacques Coetzee.
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Vermaak only returned to the rugby field last weekend when he played for the Lions' Vodacom Cup side against the Valke. He'd been out of action since September last year with a serious ankle injury.
"Jano's a classy player and I want to get him involved as soon as possible," said Muir. "In fact, I was really tempted to start with him."
Muir said on Wednesday he was expecting a new energy in his team on Friday.
"We've had a couple of weeks on the road and the guys have settled down," Muir revealed.
"I think we'll be better prepared this week than has been the case up to now and I believe there will be a freshness in the players who are coming back into action.
"A number of the guys deserved a break last week, but they're raring to go again."
With both the Lions and Sharks being based in the capital of New South Wales, Muir and his management team enjoyed lunch with the Sharks coaching staff in Sydney yesterday.
"It was good to catch up with John Plumtree," said Muir.
"We shared some ideas and thoughts about our opponents this weekend (the Sharks face the Brumbies on Saturday) and learnt a fair bit about the guys we'll be up against."
Muir admitted he was becoming increasingly frustrated with his team's losing streak, saying it was now time to pick up a win.
"I think it (a win) is around the corner. There's a lot of excitement in the camp and a real belief we can pull this one off."
With two matches in Australia to come after tomorrow's fixture, the Lions are indeed a little desperate to pick up their first win of the year.
The Lions currently find themselves in familiar territory, sitting in second-last place on the Super 14 points table, having lost all four of their previous matches.
Meanwhile, in the first match of round five, the Waikato Chiefs, currently sitting second in the standings, entertain the Canterbury Crusaders, who are one point behind in fifth place, in an all-New Zealand clash.
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