The Lions have powered up with Vodacom United Rugby Championship experience for the opening Currie Cup clash against Western Province in Johannesburg tomorrow.

The 23-year-old No eight Travis Gordon will captain a Lions pack featuring a plethora of experienced players, including an all-URC front row of Sti Sithole, Jaco Visagie and Ruan Smith.

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Gordan completes a youthful Lions back row alongside 20-year-old former Vodacom Bulls player Ruan Delport and 22-year-old Sibusiso Sangweni.

Hooker Michael van Vuuren, loosehead prop Morgan Naude and flank Ruhan Straeuli are on the bench alongside Junior Springbok scrumhalf Nico Steyn and utility back Zeilinga Strydom.

Lions – 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Matt More, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Boldwin Hansen, 10 Vaughen Isaacs, 9 Morne vd Berg, 8 Travis Gordon (c), 7 Ruan Delport, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Darrien Landsburg, 4 Pieter-Janse van Rensburg, 3 Ruan Smith, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole.
Subs: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Jarod Cairns, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Zeilinga Strydom.

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