Werner Kok, Vincent Tshituka and Dylan Richardson will make their return from injury when the Sharks face the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Kok, who last played on October 30, replaces Marnus Potgieter on the wing, while loose forwards Tshituka and Richardson are in line to feature off the bench in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash at Ellis Park.

Director of rugby Neil Powell has selected a six-two split for the substitutes, who he no doubt hopes will bring impetus and energy as the Sharks look to get back to winning ways in the URC.

The Durbanites were thumped by the DHL Stormers at home and then went into a bye week before regrouping for this week’s URC encounter on the Highveld.

In other changes to the team beaten at home two weeks ago, Dan Jooste replaces Kerron van Vuuren at hooker and Hyron Andrews makes way for Reniel Hugo at lock, in the pack.

In the backline, scrumhalf Grant Williams returns to action, with Cameron Wright playing off the bench. Francois Venter takes over from Ben Tapuai at inside centre. who is the other backline player among the replacements.

This weekend’s clash will be the sixth time that the 13th-placed Lions have met the ninth-placed Sharks in the URC, with the former having have lost four on the trot in the 2022/23 competition while the latter have lost three of their last four league matches away from home.

Read more: Sharks hunting ‘old boys’ on Highveld

📢TEAM RELEASE📢

Your starting XV sees Vincent Tshituka and Dylan Richardson back from injury and on the bench. While Grant Williams returns to action 💪

🔗: https://t.co/nbVTXjrN4a #FearTheFin Vodacom #URC #LIOvSHA pic.twitter.com/0qujOYLTch

— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) February 16, 2023