Reds v Lions: Teams

The Reds welcome back Will Genia at scrum-half for the visit of the Lions in Brisbane on Saturday.

Genia returns after serving a three-match ban and is one of two changes to the line-up with lock Adam Byrnes promoted from the bench in place of Scott Higginbotham.

Academy player Brendan McKibbin had been filling in at number nine but drops out of the squad altogether with Ben Lucas amongst the replacements.

"Getting Will back will inject a little bit of energy and speed in the team," said coach Phil Mooney.

"His great strength is his ability to clear the ball quickly and that means we can play a slightly different type of game. His kicking game is very good as well.

"Those elements have been missed. Half-back is a position in the Wallabies that is by no means nailed down.

"All the half-backs that are running around have different qualities. Will's great qualities are his pass and his kicking, so I certainly think he's up there."

Fourie ruled out

Lions have lost their second captain in the space of two weeks with Jaque Fourie joining Cobus Grobbelaar on the sidelines.

The centre injured an eye last weekend after taking over the leadership duties from Grobbelaar, who remains out with an ankle problem.

Fit-again Doppies le Grange fills in for Fourie at centre while flanker Ernst Joubert will lead the side in their absence.

In other changes, Earl Rose starts at full-back after Louis Ludik suffered a slight hamstring strain in the 36-12 defeat to the Blues.

Jannie Boshoff comes in for Shandre Frolick on the wing and Jano Vermaak is back at scrum-half after Chris Jonck was handed a start last week.

Amongst the forwards, there are two changes as Jannes Labuschagne replaces Gerhard Mostert in the second row and Lawrence Sephaka comes in for Gert Muller up front.

Reds: 15 Mark McLinden, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Digby Ioane, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Brando Va'aulu, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ezra Taylor, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Hugh McMeniman, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Adam Byrnes, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Sean Hardman, 1 Greg Holmes.

Replacements: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 Jack Kennedy, 18 Leroy Houston, 19 Scott Higginbotham, 20 Ben Lucas, 21 Charlie Fetoai, 22 Luke Morahan.

Lions: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Jannie Boshoff, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Doppies le Grange, 11 Henno Mentz, 10 Andre Pretorius, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Ernst Joubert (c), 6 Todd Clever, 5 Anton van Zyl, 4 Jannes Labuschagne, 3 Lawrence Sephaka, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 Hans van Dyk, 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Franco van der Merwe, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Gerhard Mostert, 21 Chris Jonck, 22 Shandre Frolick.