Johannesburg - Don't expect any surprises when Lions boss Johan Ackermann names his line-up for their opening Super Rugby clash against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Last year’s surprise finalists will have a very familiar look about them, with the coach having to only find replacements for stalwarts of the 2016 season - props Julian Redelinghuys and Dylan Smith, blindside flank Warwick Tecklenburg and right wing Ruan Combrinck.
The rest of the side pretty much picks itself.
With Redelinghuys ruled out for the season and Smith only due back in a few weeks’ time, the Lions will push a new-look front row into the field on Saturday, the most likely men to wear the No1 and No3 jerseys being Ruan Dreyer and Jacques van Rooyen.
Taking the role of blindside flank will possibly be Ruan Ackermann, whose bulk and line-out skills will see him edge out Cyle Brink, Fabian Booysen and Kwagga Smith.
The right wing berth could well go to rookie Madosh Tambwe, who shone in the pre-season games, but Anthony Volmink is also an option for Ackermann and so, too, is Sylvian Mahuza.
With so many quality centres in the ranks, the coach’s toughest decision may be who to pick alongside each other in the No12 and 13 jerseys. Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Howard Mnisi and Harold Vorster are the contenders for the inside centre role, with Lionel Mapoe almost certain to be at 13. That is, if the Springbok outside centre is over the thigh injury that prevented him from playing against the Stormers 10 days ago.
The one other department that may give Ackermann some food for thought is the second row. Andries Ferreira and Franco Mostert formed a formidable duo last season and should be the favourites to start against the Cheetahs, but one cannot ignore the challenge posed by Lourens Erasmus and new recruit from the Bulls, Marvin Orie.
The Cheetahs, meanwhile, will also have a familiar look about them. Their biggest challenge is likely to again be their limited depth, while there is uncertainty in their squad about the future of coach Franco Smith.
The former Varsity Cup winning boss is strongly linked with a post with the Springboks and may have to share his time between the Cheetahs and the national team or give up the Bloemfontein-based side completely.
Both Ackermann and Smith will name their line-ups for the opener later this week.