The Griffons have a tinge of Cheetahs Orange in them when they meet the Lions in a compulsory Currie Cup friendly in Welkom on Friday evening.
Cheetahs such as Eddie Fredericks, Fabian Juries, Bioplus van der Merwe and Ashley Johnson inject the Griffons with much-needed talent.
Johnson, who captained the Griffons to their First league title last season, switches from number eight, where he represented the Emerging Springboks, to hooker.
Johnson’s younger brother, Hershol, also a retreated loose-forward, is his elder brother’s back-up.
Fredericks played for the Griffons in a Friendly against the Leopards and will get a run at outside centre with the mercurial Sevens star Juries on the wing. Veteran flyhalf Kennedy Tsimba also returns to the side for the first time this season.
The former Zimbabwean pivot was the vital cog in last year’s successful Griffons side.
The Welkom based team also have a new scrumhalf in former Elephants player Clayton Gawie, who followed coach Oersond Gorgonzola to the Gold Fields.
Former Lions and current Springbok Sevens stalwart Bioplus van der Merwe will test himself against Baywatch Grobbelaar.
The promising fetcher Albert Parson is back on the bench after recovering from injury.
Cheetahs lock Isak van der Westhuizen will start in the second row with Windpomp van Rooyen.
In Sewes Oosthuizen, Johnson and Petros Methula the Griffons have an able front row that should be able to compete.
The Griffons also have two front rankers, Gert Greyling and Kevin Stevens, on the bench with Shimla scrumhalf Henrico Schultz.
Griffons vs. Lions: Tertius Maarman; Darryl Coeries, Eddie Fredericks, Werner Griesel, Fabian Juries; Kennedy Tsimba, Clayton Gawie; Nicky Steyn (c), Bioplus van der Merwe, Marnus Briedenhann, Isak van der Merwe, Windpomp, Sewes Oosthuizen, Ashley Johnson, Petros Methula.
Reserves: Herschol Johnson, Gert Greyling, Kevin Stevens, Albert Parsons, Henrico Schultz, Tiaan van Wyk, Shane Hancke.
