Bulls coach Frans Ludeke made two changes to his starting pack for Saturday’s Super Rugby match against the  Lions in Johannesburg and also had to replace pivot Handré Pollard, who did not recover in time from a knee contusion.

Jacques-Louis Potgieter will start at 10 and is the only change to the backline that ran on against the Crusaders last week. Potgieter is returning to action following a hamstring strain that kept him out for three weeks.

Grant Hattingh (for Victor Matfield) and Dean Greyling (for Morné Mellett) will start in the pack. Both played off the bench last weekend.

Hattingh’s spot on the bench will be taken by Roelof Smit and Greyling swops places with Mellett, who will play of the bench. Matfield is rested (as is Jan Serfontein).

Callie Visagie makes his return to the squad following a back injury.

Ludeke is keen for the team to continue with the rugby that earned them four wins on the trot, but realises the challenge that will come from the home side.

“The Lions just came back from their best tour ever, so will be keen to keep that momentum and will be boosted by their home crowd. We are also keen to keep progressing as a team and as it is our traditional derby, we are expecting a cracker of a game,” Ludeke said.

Vodacom Bulls captain Pierre Spies was adamant that the Bulls will have to play ever better this week.

“We learned it the hard way during the opening two weeks. You cannot be off the pace during the 80 minutes, as other teams punish you. We played great rugby last weekend, but that will mean nothing to the Lions, who will come out all guns blazing on their home turf. We lost there last year, so have a lot to prove this time around.”

Bulls scrumhalf Piet van Zyl will earn a 50th Super Rugby cap if he takes to the field. The 25 year old played his first 32 matches in the competition for the Cheetahs.

The team (with Super Rugby caps is): Jesse Kriel (7), Francois Hougaard (78), JJ Engelbrecht (55), Burger Odendaal (1), Bjorn Basson (77), Jacques-Louis Potgieter (56), Rudy Paige (13), Pierre Spies (c, 109), Hanro Liebenberg (3), Deon Stegmann (85), Grant Hattingh (40), Jacques du Plessis (21), Trevor Nyakane (48), Adriaan Strauss (111), Dean Greyling (59). Replacements: Callie Visagie (41), Morné Mellett (30), Marcel van der Merwe (23), Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (2), Roelof Smit (2), Piet van Zyl (49), Tian Schoeman (1), Jurgen Visser (27).