Springbok captain and No 8 Warren Whiteley will captain the Lions on Saturday against the Sharks at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg in the first local derby of the revamped 2018 Super Rugby competition.

Following a revamp of the competition last year, only four South African franchises will participate in 2018. The Bulls have a bye in the first round and will kick-off their campaign next week, when the rest of the teams from Australia, New Zealand and Japan will also enter the action.

No fewer than three players, namely Carlu Sadie (Stormers), Aphiwe Dyantyi and Hacjivah Dayimani  (Lions) are set to get their first taste of Super Rugby action this weekend, while a total of 25 capped Springboks will be in action.

Springbok flanker Siya Kolisi will lead the Stormers in their opening clash against the Jaguares and kick-off is set for 15:05. Despite the forced absence of star Springbok lock pairing Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit, the Capetonians still boast a powerful pack stacked with Springboks, and a bolstered back division with the addition of speedster Raymond Rhule and returning Springbok Sevens star Seabelo Senatla.

Whiteley makes a welcome return to local action after missing most of the second half of last season because of a persistent groin injury. The high-octane local derby in Johannesburg – the second match of the opening weekend – kicks-off at 17:15.

Lions prop Jacques van Rooyen will make his 50^th Super Rugby appearance when he runs out against the visitors from Durban, while young speedster Aphiwe Dyantyi is set to make his competition debut on the left wing in place of injured Springbok Courtnall Skosan.

SA Rugby Player of the Year Malcolm Marx spearheads the Highveld team’s pack, while the Durbanites have, amongst others, the experienced Tendai Mtawarira and Lwazi Mvovo in their match 23. The Cell C Sharks have appointed lock Ruan Botha to captain them this season.

Teams in Cape Town:

Stormers: 15. Dillyn Leyds, 14. Seabelo Senatla, 13. EW Viljoen, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Raymond Rhule, 10. Damian Willemse, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Nizaam Carr, 7. Cobus Wiese, 6. Siya Kolisi (captain), 5. JD Schickerling, 4. Chris van Zyl, 3. Wilco Louw, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 1. Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16. Ramone Samuels, 17. JC Janse van Rensburg, 18. Carlu Sadie, 19. Jan de Klerk, 20. Kobus van Dyk, 21. Justin Phillips, 22. George Whitehead, 23. JJ Engelbrecht.

Jaguares: TBA

Referee: Jaco Peyper (SA)

Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Egon Seconds (SA)

Television match official: Christie du Preez (SA)

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Teams in Johannesburg:

Lions: 15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Sylvian Mahuza, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Ross Cronje, 8. Warren Whiteley (captain), 7. Cyle Brink, 6. Kwagga Smith, 5. Franco Mostert, 4. Andries Ferreira, 3. Ruan Dreyer, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Jacques van Rooyen. Replacements: 16. Robbie Coetzee, 17. Dylan Smith, 18. Jacobie Adriaanse, 19. Marvin Orie, 20. Marnus Schoeman, 21. Hacjivah Dayimani, 22. Howard Mnisi, 23. Rohan Janse van Rensburg.

Sharks: 15. Lwazi Mvovo, 14. Sbu Nkosi, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. André Esterhuizen, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Robert du Preez, 9. Cameron Wright, 8. Keegan Daniel, 7. Jacques Vermeulen, 6. Philip van der Walt, 5. Stephan Lewies, 4. Ruan Botha (captain), 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Franco Marais, 1. Juan Schoeman. Replacements: 16. Akker van der Merwe, 17. John-Hubert Meyer, 18. Tendai Mtawarira, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Daniel du Preez, 21. Michael Claassens, 22. Kobus van Wyk 23. Curwin Bosch.

Referee: Glen Jackson (NZ)

Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs, Cwengile Jadezweni (SA)

Television match official: Marius Jonker (SA)

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