Cheetahs rush their Bok back for Lions
De Jager, South Africa's Player of the Year, was left behind – as part of an agreement with the South African Rugby Union to rest key Boks – when the team travelled to Singapore last week for a 32-31 win over the Sunwolves.
However, the team's vice-captain will start in a side showing a number of changes from the which came from behind to edge the Japanese newcomers.
Charles Marais, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Nicolas van Dyk and Clayton Blommetjies are all back in the starting line-up.
Jacques du Toit, Retshegofaditswe Nche, Johan Coetzee and Francois Uys all drop down to the replacement bench.
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter (captain), 12 William Small-Smith, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Neil Marais, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Nicolaas van Dyk, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Charles Marais.
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Retshegofaditswe Nche, 18 Johan Coetzee, 19 Francois Uys, 20 Hilton Lobberts, 21 Johannes Prinsloo, 22 Tian Meyer, 23 Fred Zeilinga.
Date: Saturday, March 19
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT()
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
