Injured Lions in race against time

Two of the Lions' key players are set to miss the start of the season, but the team is well stocked to plug those gaps.

Johan Ackerman's men have so far flown well under the radar, but the Lions will emerge from their pre-season 'slumber' to take on the Leopards and NWU-Pukke in their only warm-up match before he season gets underway on February 13.

And the names of utility forward Luvuyiso Lusaseni and hooker Robbie Coetzee will be missing from the two squads that head to Potchefstroom on Saturday.

Ackerman, speaking to rugby365 ahead of his team's pre-season outing, said they have only a "few niggles" and that most of the issues should be sorted out by next week.

"The only big problems are MB [Luvuyiso Lusaseni], who is still recovering from the fractured ankle [he suffered late last year] and Robbie Coetzee, still recovering from the neck surgery [that resulted in him being sent home from the Springbok tour squad]," the Lions' coach said.

He admitted both are in a race against time to be fit for the opening match of the season, when the Lions play the Hurricanes in Johannesburg on February 13.

"However, from weeks two and three they should be available again."

Apart from the new recruits – Sampie Mastriet, Lohan Jacobs and Ruan Janse van Rensburg from Bulls – the Lions will also have a number of players on loan from the Pumas.

Players like Corne Fourie Corne, Francois de Klerk and Stefan Watermeyer will be key to the Lions' goal of improving on last season seven Super Rugby victories.

Ackermann said he is taking two teams to Potchefstroom to play against the Leopards and NWU-Pukke on Saturday.

"By next week I'll make the call on the final Super Rugby squad," he added.

By Jan de Koning

@King365ed

@rugby365com