Elton to start against the Sharks

The Springbok pivot has fully recovered from a shoulder injury and will take over the number-10 jersey from Marnitz Boshoff, who was a revelation with his place-kicking in their first three matches.

"We feel Elton has worked hard to be where he is now and to be in the condition he is in," Lions coach Johan Ackermann said in Johannesburg on Thursday. "He's got the x-factor. He is a guy who has played at the highest level, so that is why we want him to play the weekend."

Boshoff moves to fullback - where he spent considerable time in their 2013 season - forcing Chrysander Botha to the wing with Ruan Combrinck from left wing to the right of the field.

"Bossie (Boshoff) has been excellent at fullback for us in the past and it gives us that left and right foot combination," Ackermann said. "So hopefully that will work for us, we are just happy to have him (Jantjies) back because he is a good team player and he is good for team spirit."

On Thursday, Ackermann named a new centre combination for the fourth time in as many matches with Deon van Rensburg moving from the wing to outside centre.

He will form a combination with Stefan Watermeyer - the only constant in midfield since the start of the season.

Watermeyer, however, has been switched between inside and outside centre every other week with his partners falling victim to injury.

Ackermann said the inconsistency in selection was a concern and he hoped his injured players would make a return sooner rather than later: "Obviously with Lionel Mapoe and Alwyn Hollenbach out it was forced...it is a problem and you have to look at the bench. If we start with JW Jonker and he is injured then we don't have cover at centre on the bench. Deon van Rensburg has quite a good history at 13 which is why we entrust him there but hopefully over the next few weeks we get some of those centres back."

In the only change to his forwards pack, Ackermann has given veteran hooker Willie Wepener a starting berth with Robbie Coetzee moving to the bench.

"I've told them that I would like to rotate them because I don't a player to play five consecutive matches of 80 minutes each," Ackermann said. "I was at a point to do the same with a few positions among the forwards but we've already made so many changes to the backline."

The Lions possibly face their biggest challenge of the season when they meet the Sharks.

The Durban side easily dealt with the Bulls in their opening match before they had to work hard for their victory over the Hurricanes. They had their first bye in the third round.

"They are a strong side and they have Springboks all over. They look in good condition -- they are very direct, very physical with big ball carrying players," Ackermann said. "Surely they must be one of the favourites and the way they started showed that they were in form as well which makes them even more dangerous."

Lions team: Marnitz Boshoff, Ruan Combrinck, Deon van Rensburg, Stefan Watermeyer, Chrysander Botha, Elton Jantjies, Faf de Klerk, Warren Whiteley (captain), Warwick Tecklenburg, Jaco Kriel, Franco van der Merwe, Franco Mostert, Julian Redelinghuys, Willie Wepener, Schalk van der Merwe.

Replacements: Robbie Coetzee, Corne Fourie, Ruan Dreyer, MB Lusaseni, Willie Britz, Ross Cronje, JW Jonker, Coenie van Wyk.

(File Photo:Andre Bloem)

Twitter - @SportswaveAndre