Lions v Crusaders: Teams

The Crusaders will be without concussed captain Richie McCaw for their Super 14 match against the Lions - who have Springbok centre Jaque Fourie back in their starting XV.

Crusaders have suffered a huge setback with their captain being ruled out with concussion symptoms.

Coach Todd Blackadder has said that McCaw's removal is simply precautionary.

"We wanted to wait to see how he was at training and beforehand Richie said he was feeling okay," Blackadder told New Zealand's Radio Sport.

"But at the training he said he was not feeling 100 per cent, so we have decided to rule him out."

Problems

McCaw has had ongoing problems with concussion throughout his career and was ruled out of the round two match against the Brumbies in February because of a head knock.

Jonathan Poff will get his first start in the number seven jersey.

Blackadder has handed returns to the starting XV to lock Isaac Ross, flank Kieran Read, scrum-half Andy Ellis and full-back Leon MacDonald for a match he described as "all or nothing".

Wing Kade Poki, Scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i, flank Michael Paterson and lock Ross Filipo all return to the bench after starting last weekend against the Cheetahs.

Blackadder had also opted for MacDonald to take the kicking duties ahead of regular kicker Stephen Brett.

Fourie bossts Lions

Springbok centre Jaque Fourie has returned to the Lions starting XV after injury for the match at Coca-cola Park on Friday.

The Lions have had a short turnaround since completing their tour to Australia and New Zealand, and face a Crusaders team still smarting from defeat to the Cheetahs.

Bad news for the Lions comes as they have had to withdraw captain Cobus 'Baywatch' Grobbelaar.

Grobbelaar failed a late fitness test after the ankle injury he suffered on tour flamed up once again.

As a result, Johan van Deventer will replace Grobbelaar in the number six jersey in his Super 14 debut and Jaque Fourie will take over the captaincy roll.

Lions:15 Louis Ludik, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Jaque Fourie (captain), 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Jannie Boshoff, 10 André Pretorius, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Ernst Joubert, 6 Johan van Deventer, 5 Anton van Zyl, 4 Jannes Labuschagne, 3 Lawrence Sephaka, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.

Replacements: 16 Hans van Dyk, 17 Gert Muller, 18 Gerhard Mostert, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Earl Rose, 22 Michael Killian.

Crusaders: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Jared Payne, 13 Tim Bateman, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Colin Slade, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Jonathan Poff, 6 Kieran Read (c), 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Jason Macdonald, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Replacements: 16 Dan Perrin, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Ross Filipo, 19 Michael Paterson, 20 Kahn Fotuali'i, 21 Adam Whitelock, 22 Hamish Gard.