Kick-off is at 19h00 and the action will be televised on the SuperSport Grandstand and Rugby channels.

The nippy Van den Berg gets a deserved starting berth following his solid performance last week as first-half replacement for Smit, who dislocated his shoulder and will most likely miss the remainder of the local season as a result of injury rehabilitation.

Emirates Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has included Springbok halfback Ross Cronje as replacement for Smit in only new addition to the travelling squad of 25.

Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies will be leading the visiting team against a strong, Springbok-laden DHL Stormers team spearheaded by Springbok flank and skipper Siya Kolisi.

The Joburg side is playing away from home for a second week in a row following their nail-biting 19-16 loss last week to the Cell C Sharks in Durban.

TEAM UPDATE: Willem Alberts was in close contact with a COVID-19 case and has gone into quarantine, although he was tested and cleared. He will be replaced by Ruben Schoeman in the starting line-up.

Emirates Lions: 15 EW Viljoen; 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Burger Odendaal, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Rabz Maxwane; 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 Morné van den Berg; 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements (from): Jan-Henning Campher, Dylan Smith, Wiehahn Herbst, Wilhelm van der Sluys, MJ Pelser, Hacjivah Dayimani, Ross Cronjé, Gianni Lombard, Wandisile Simelane, Ruan Dreyer.

Match information – DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions
Date: Saturday 17 October
Time: 19h00
Venue: DHL Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant Referees: Egon Seconds, Aimee Barrett-Theron
Television Match Official: Joey Klaaste-Salmans
TV: SuperSport Grandstand and Rugby