The Lions have made three changes to their run-on team to face Griquas in an Absa Currie Cup match in Kimberley on Saturday.
The Johannesburg side defeated the Pumas 31-27 in their opening game of the competition at home last week.
Jaco Taute was injured and would be replaced by Michael Killian at fullback, the Lions announced on Wednesday.
Dylan des Fountain was replaced by Deon van Rensburg at right wing and centre Waylon Murray would come in at outside centre for Alwyn Hollenbach.
“Michael is in for Jaco who is a week away from playing as he’s recovered quicker than we expected,” said Lions coach John Mitchell.
“Deon and Waylon come in because I wasn’t happy with the performances of Dylan and Alwyn.”
On the bench, the Lions said JC Janse van Rensburg would return from injury to replace Caylib Oosthuizen.
“JC van Rensburg is back. After playing every minute in Super Rugby we’re just trying to manage him,” said Mitchell.
Despite his team’s narrow win in their opening fixture, Mitchell was not concerned about their below par performance.
“I’m not too stressed. To be fair, we got through the first hurdle,” he said. “It wasn’t a great performance but it’s important that we keep getting better.”
Looking ahead to their game against Griquas, Lions captain Doppies la Grange said his team would approach the match like any other in the competition.
“It’s always hard to play in Kimberley,” La Grange said.
“Griquas have shocked some of the bigger teams and we’ve lost out the last two or three years there, so we’re looking forward to improving from our game last week.”
Lions team:
Michael Killian, Deon van Rensburg, Waylon Murray, Doppies la Grange (captain), Lionel Mapoe, Burton Francis, Jano Vermaak, Joshua Strauss, Derick Minnie, Cobus Grobbelaar, Franco van der Merwe, Wikus van Heerden, Jacobie Adriaanse, Bandise Maku, Patric Cilliers.
Replacements: Martin Bezuidenhout, JC Janse van Rensburg, Johan Snyman, Dries van Schalkwyk, Michael Bondesio, Hein Cronje, Alwyn Hollenbach.