Lions coach Johan Ackermann took no chances when naming his team to play the Brumbies at Ellis Park tomorrow by starting with some of his best combinations.

Last weekend, the Lions' sluggish start to the game against the Highlanders almost cost them the match and possibly a place in the knockout stages of the Super Rugby competition.

Elton Jantjies and Faf de Klerk, one of the most exciting half-back combinations in the competition, reclaim their spots in the starting XV ahead of Marnitz Boshoff and Ross Cronje.

The Lions have also been boosted by the return from injury of star outside-back Lionel Mapoe, who will start at right wing for the clash.

Mapoe had missed some key clashes, against the Bulls and Highlanders, since limping off with a knee injury against the Cheetahs at the end of April.

Ackermann chose not to fiddle with his midfield of Alwyn Hollenbach and Harold Vorster, nor with his front row.

Ackermann said they were a step closer to figuring out why the team started games so slowly, only to surge ahead of their opponents under pressure at the death.

"The problem is with our failure to retain the ball," he said. "If you look at the first try the Highlanders scored [last weekend], when the game was still close, they turned the ball over from one ruck and ran 40 to 50 metres to score.

"Up until the 35th minute we were only 6-3 behind, but then they scored two tries. We need to prevent those soft moments and we had too many of those in the first half last weekend."

Ackermann has also brought in Martin Muller to the second row to reunite him with Franco Mostert.

The pair form the Lions' best lock combination and the coach hoped that Muller's return and the reunion with Mostert would mend the line-out area that cracked last Saturday.