No player boost as Lions stars stay sidelined

They may be expecting to play “in an oven” but the Emirates Lions will have to make their trip to Durban without three of their most experienced players.

The Lions confirmed on Tuesday that star Springbok fullback Quan Horn, SA A midfielder Henco van Wyk and lock Etienne Oosthuizen have all been ruled out of the clash and will not be eligible for selection this week.

Earlier coach Ivan van Rooyen had said that Horn and Van Wyk are touch and go to be ready for the return Sharks game and wanted to give them as much time as possible.

But the decision to stick with mostly the same squad and not rush their stars back can be put down to the length of the season and the Lions’ plans to try and make it into the top eight.

After this game they have a week off before two overseas games against Cardiff and Glasgow Warriors. They will need the three players for those games as they look for at least one victory away from home before a run of four home games to finish off their league commitments in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

Horn and Van Wyk in particular, also have Springbok aspirations and will want to be a big part of how the Lions close the season, so the decision not to risk them for a one-off game makes a lot of sense.

Add to this the confidence in the players that took their place - Tapiwa Mafura and Manny Rass - and the Lions feel confident they can go back to back against the Sharks.

The Lions know the challenge that comes with back to back games against an opponent and knows it will be tougher in Durban.

Lions flanker Jarod Cairns said they were expecting to “play in an oven” on Saturday.

“The Sharks are going to pick up their game on Saturday. We also know it’s going to be humid, we know it’s going to be hot, so we are prepared mentally to go down there and play in a bit of an oven.”

And those players selected will face a new, tougher challenge in the process, one they have to overcome if they are to take another step to the playoffs.

Without their three stars it won’t be easy, but the Lions surprised all and sundry with their big win last weekend.

The question is now if they can repeat it a week later?