Whiteley leads powerful pride into Bushveld battle
Both teams will play in their second pre-season outing when they meet at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
The Bulls, hosts in this game, lost to the Cheetahs in Harare last week, while the Lions demolished both the Falcons and Leopards in Kempton Park.
Apart from Whiteley, there is also Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies among a host of last year's Super Rugby regulars.
In fact coach Johan Ackermann clearly showed his hand in naming what is likely to be his starting team for the opening round of the season – the historic outing against the Japanese Sunwolves in Tokyo on February 27.
Lionel Mapoe, like Jantjies one of the most unfortunate players missing on World Cup selection last year, will start at outside centre.
Mapoe, who sat out last week's matches against the Falcons and Leopards due to injury, will be partnered by Rohan Janse van Rensburg in the midfield.
Jantjies is partnered at halfback by seasoned scrumhalf Ross Cronjé, with Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck and Courtnall Skosan combining as the back three.
Whiteley will be partnered among the loose forwards by Jaco Kriel and Warwick Tecklenburg.
In the front row Jacques van Rooyen and Julian Redelinghuys scrum down either side of hooker Robbie Coetzee.
The lock pairing is Franco Mostert and Andries Ferreira.
A bench consisting of 11 players will travel to Polokwane and everyone will get a run.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques Van Rooyen.
Replacements – from: Malcolm Marx, Dylan Smith, Ruan Dreyer, Robert Kruger, Martin Muller, Ruan Ackermann, Stephan de Witt, Ruan Lerm, Francois de Klerk, Howard Mnisi, Nicolaas Hanekom, Anthony Volmink, Jaco van der Walt.
Date: Saturday, February 13
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
