Whiteley blow for Lions
Whiteley, who failed to make the World Cup cut, was initially named to lead the Lions in their Currie Cup Round Five encounter.
They are scheduled to meet the Eastern Province Kings in Johannesburg on Saturday – if the players strike in Port Elizabeth is resolved before the weekend.
However, Whiteley pulled his calf in training on Thursday and has been ruled out.
Howard Mnisi will now captain Lions, as coach Johan Ackermann, who followed through with his rotation policy, made wholesale changes.
Fabian Booysen was set to move to flank, but will again start at No.8 and Sevens Bok Albertus Smith returns to the flank after initially dropping down to the bench.
Other changes in the forwards see Malcolm Marx and Julian Redelinghuys start in the front row – ahead of Robbie Coetzee and Ruan Dreyer.
Luvuyiso Lusaseni will start at lock ahead of Springbok training squad member Franco Mostert.
There are also five changes to the Lions backline.
Lohan Jacobs will start at scrumhalf in place of Ross Cronje, Jaco van der Walt has been given an opportunity to start at flyhalf ahead of Marnitz Boshoff, Nicolaas Hanekom will start at outside centre in place of Alwyn Hollenbach , with Howard Mnisi shifting , Anthony Volmink will start at left wing in place of Courtnall Skosan and Ruan Combrinck shifts to right wing to make space for Andries Coetzee.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Nicolaas Hanekom, 12 Howard Mnisi (captain), 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Lohan Jacobs, 8 Fabian Booysen, 7 Albertus Smith, 6 Stephan de Wit, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Lourens Erasmus, 19 Jano Venter, 20 Ricky Schroeder, 21 Marnitz Boshoff, 22 Jacques Nel.
Date: Saturday, September 5
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs, Ricus van der Hoven
TMO: JJ Wagner
