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Le Roux: No place

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The Stormers have made two changes to their team ahead of their crucial clash with the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Coach Rassie Erasmus has left the back-line intact, and although there are two changes to the pack, Ollie le Roux has not been included.

After drawing 13-13 with the Waratahs at Newlands last Saturday, the Cape side must win this South African derby in Johannesburg.

Pieter Myburgh comes into the starting XV in the place of Robbie Diack, who drops to the bench. Myburgh will play openside flank meaning that Luke Watson will move to No.8.

Schalk Ferreira has been given the nod at loosehead prop, allowing Brian Mujati to play on his preferred tighthead side where he will do battle with Heinke van der Merwe. The change sees Brok Harris, who suffered a slight injury against the Waratahs, move to the bench.

There has been much speculation around the Stormers front row to face the in-form Lions pack, with former Springbok and Leinster veteran Le Roux training with the squad during the week.

JD Moller's season-ending injury disrupted the Stormers scrum and after the game against the Waratahs Erasmus admitted the visitors put the heat on his pack at scrum time. It was thought that Le Roux might be drafted into the squad to bolster the Stormers set piece.

"He trained with the team [on Monday]," Erasmus told the Stormers website.

"He made a good contribution and with his experience he is valuable."

No doubt the fact that Le Roux would not be eligible to play in the semi-finals, should the Stormers qualify, influenced the decision to leave him out.

"If we want to select him for the semi-final - if we make it obviously - we need to get special permission from SANZAR, as the rules stipulate a player needs to play four games in the league phase," Erasmus explained.

The two players who were injury concerns after the Waratahs game, Wylie Human and Brok Harris, have both been declared fit.

Stormers: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Wylie Human, 13 Gcobani Bobo, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Sireli Naqelevuki, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Luke Watson, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Pieter Myburgh, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Ross Skeate, 19 Robbie Diack, 20 Bolla Conradie, 21 Tony Brown, 22 Dylan des Fountain.