The Lions held a media conference to launch their Super Rugby campaign this afternoon, where the team to face the Cheetahs at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday was announced.

Kick Off is at 19h10 local time.

The team as announced at the media conference is:

Head Coach John Mitchell will announce on Friday, 24 February as to whether Wikus van Heerden (knee injury) or Hendrik Roodt will start, in the meantime it has now been confirmed that CJ van der Linde will be on the bench, whereas at first Jacobie Adriaanse’s name was bracketed with that of CJ on the bench.

Coach John Mitchell indicated that the only real selection question surrounded Wikus van Heerden who is struggling to shake off a persistent knee injury.

It would therefore seem certain that CJ will gain his first Lions Super Rugby cap from the bench.

Lionel Mapoe who was initially named on the bench has been replaced by Michael Killian due to the fact that Lionel Mapoe has now been ruled out due to a hamstring injury.

Michael Rhodes was not considered for the team as he has not yet reached the required fitness level dictated by the coaching staff after an enforced injury layoff.

Both coach John Mitchell and Captain Joshua Strauss insisted that the current debate surrounding which, if any, current South African Super Rugby franchise would make way for the Southern Kings next year, is in no way a distraction for the Lions team.

Both stated that the Lions squad were all focused only on the execution of their weekly goals, and that they were concerned only with what they could infuence at any given time.

Lions President Kevin de Klerk, in an address to the media immediately following the Q & A session was at pains to point out that the Lions have been on a path to restore the glory of years gone by for the last couple of years, and that despite the “bad press publicity” currently being experienced by the Union are well on their way to reaching that goal.

He (de Klerk) insisted that the financial freedoms that the Union, its investors and supporters seek,  is and will become a by-product of Rugby success.

The President also confirmed that there has been a shedding of staff, both playing and other members, and that whilst the exercise had been painfull, it had been a necessary exercise.

As a person who has been to many Lions / GLRU functions in the past, I get the distinct feeling that there has been a real culture shift in New Doornfontein, and that with it there is a desire to be more transparent, open and honest with all stakeholders, which in turn is translating into a new found confidence with everyone involved with the union.

I think that that confidence coupled with the continuity of selections and the self belief that a coach like John Mitchell instills in his players may well translate into the best Super Rugby season for the Johannesburg based franchise in more than a decade.

Mitchell insisted today that topping the Super Rugby log is the goal, and whilst I would not expect anything less from him, I do not see why this squad of players, greatly unchanged by either acquisitions or player loss, cannot realistically challenge for a play-off spot.

Our Webmaster here at Rugby-Talk is on record as aying that the Lions’ first four games this season may well define their Super Rugby campaign, and I tend to agree with him. I just hope that the team carry on with the style and type of rugby with which they ended the Currie Cup in 2011, from the first whistle on Saturday evening.

If they do, I’m sure they will surprise many of the more fancied teams in the competition.