Lions bench a Bok
The Lions travel to Bloemfontein on Saturday to take on the tournament's runaway leaders, the Free State Cheetahs.
De Klerk is one of three Boks in the matchday squad, but the only one bench.
Prop Julian Redelinghuys and hooker Malcolm Marx are in the starting XV.
Sevens Springbok Albertus Smith will lead the Lions against Cheetahs.
The team shows six changes from that which smashed the Sharks in the final round of league action to book their place in the play-offs.
Koch Marx comes i on the right wing for Jacques Nel, who moves to outside centre in place of the injured Howard Mnisi – who damaged his knee in the win over the Sharks.
Fabian Booysen will start at No.8 ahead of Ruaan Lerm, who will play off the bench.
Redelinghuys and Marx come in for Ruaan Dreyer and Robbie Coetzee respectively, with Jacques van Rooyen replacing the injured Dylan Smith (shoulder surgery) in a completely revamped front row.
Armand van der Merwe and Corné Fourie joins Dreyer on the bench as front row cover.
Lourens Erasmus returns to provide second row cover from the bench, with Nicolaas Hanekom also returning to the bench as cover for the outside backs.
Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Koch Marx, 13 Jacques Nel, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Fabian Booysen, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Albertus Smith (captain), 5 Bobby de Wee, 4 Ruan Ackermann, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corné Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Ruaan Lerm, 21 Francois de Klerk, 22 Nicolaas Hanekom, 23 Sylvian Mahuza.
Date: Saturday, October 15
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman, Rodney Boneparte
TMO: Marius Jonker
