Hurricanes v Lions: Teams

Hore: Set for 100th appearance for Hurricanes

The Lions are looking for a third win from their four-match tour of Australasia when they face the Hurricanes in Wellington.

Since flying over from South Africa, the Lions have thrown the form book out the window after notching up two shock wins against the Brumbies and Highlanders.

Three wins from fourteen matches thus far this season may not be earth-shattering, but their competitiveness this year has been a lot better that their position suggests and they are sure to provide the Hurricanes a stern test on Saturday.

Five of their 11 losses have been by margins of seven points or fewer, including defeats to leading sides the Reds (25-30), the Stormers (16-19) and the Bulls (20-24 and 23-30) that could have gone either way.

For the Lions, this is the last of four games on the road in Australia and New Zealand, before they head home to Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg to play the Sharks in their final game next Saturday. They have their second bye in the last round.

All Blacks hooker Andrew Hore has been recalled to the Hurricanes' starting line-up for clash at the Westpac Stadium.

It will be Hore's 100th cap in the yellow jersey while international colleague Piri Weepu is also back in the fold at nine for the Round 16 fixture.

Meanwhile, Hawke's Bay back Richard Buckman has been named on the bench and will make his 'Canes debut if he runs on at Westpac Stadium.

Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Alapati Leiua, 13 Conrad Smith / Jayden Hayward, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore (c), 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Mark Reddish, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Jayden Hayward/Julian Savea, 22 Richard Buckman.

Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Dylan des Fountain, 13 Doppies la Grange (c), 12 Butch James, 11 Deon van Rensburg, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Josh Strauss, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements:16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 David de Villiers, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Alwyn Hollenbach, 22 Michael Killian.