VIDEO: Lions missing a few of their sharp 'claws'
INJURY UPDATE: The Lions will head to Durban for the United Rugby Championship Shield decider minus a couple of their star backs.
The Sharks can claim the South African Shield with a win, but victory for the Lions at Kings Park will hand the Shield to the Stormers.
The Lions, one of five teams one point away from a top-eight (play-off) spot, will bank on the same group of players that recorded a 38-14 rout of the Sharks in Johannesburg last Saturday.
Exciting backs Henco van Wyk and Quan Horn have not recovered from the injuries that ruled them out of last week’s home win.
Van Wyk and Horn, both invited to the upcoming Springbok alignment camp, have been key members of the potent Lions backline this season.
Abrasive lock Etienne Oosthuizen, another casualty of last month’s loss to the Bulls, is also still on the sidelines.
Assistant coach Ricardo Loubscher said all the players from the win over the Sharks are available for the Kings Park rematch.
“We are thankful for the five points,” he said of the bonus-point win at Ellis Park, adding: “However, they have lots of experienced and quality players.
“It will be a different game.”
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