Springbok fullback Quan Horn takes the captain’s armband for this Saturday’s crunch Carling Currie Cup final as the Fidelity ADT Lions take on the Suzuki Griquas at Ellis Park. Horn’s leadership role is as a result of the injury to regular skipper PJ Botha against Sanlam Boland in last weekend’s semi-final.

Another Springbok and crowd favourite, Asenathi Ntlabakanye starts at tight head prop for the Joburg side on the weekend. Ntlabakanye, fresh from his Players’ Player award, voted for by his franchise team mates at the Lions Players Awards earlier this week, has been training with the squad over the past two weeks.

“Asa will start for us this weekend,” said head coach Mziwakhe Nkosi.

“He’s been formally charged by the South Africa Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) but not suspended, the Currie Cup mentor explained.

“In the interim, he is a contracted rugby player at the Lions so he must play. Importantly however, we have chatted to him, and he is emotionally comfortable to play on Saturday- in fact, he is the vice-captain of the team. There is a lot of backing for Asenathi starting right at the top from our Chairman, CEO, management and players.”

Speaking ahead of the occasion, Nkosi says his team is upbeat ahead of their consecutive final.

“It’s a Currie Cup final and both teams will be positively optimistic. We are proud of the fact that it’s our second final in a row since 2014 and 2015 so there’s lot to be said for that. We are certainly looking forward to it especially with the good week of training we’ve had.”

In team news, hooker Franco Marais replaces PJ Botha hooker. RF Schoeman drops down to the replacements bench making way for Ntlabakanye.

Kick-off at Ellis Park is at 15:00

Fidelity ADT Lions 23 vs Suzuki Griquas

1.           SJ Kotze

2.           Franco Marais

3.           Asenathi Ntlabakanye (vc)

4.           Dylan Sjoblom

5.           Ruan Delport

6.           Jarod Cairns

7.           Ruan Venter

8.           WJ Steenkamp

9.           Nico Steyn

10.         Chris Smit

11.         Angelo Davids

12.         Richard Kriel

13.         Henco van Wyk

14.         Kelly Mpeku

15.         Quan Horn (c)

Replacements

16.         Morne Brandon

17.         Juan Schoeman

18.         RF Schoeman

19.         Darrien Landsberg

20.         Renzo du Plessis

21.         Haashim Pead

22.         Lubabalo Dobela

23.         Rynhardt Jonker