THEY wouldn’t be caught saying it in so many words, but so feeble has been the Lions’ challenge that the Bulls could tinker with their winning team for Saturday’s clash at Ellis Park.

Lock Flip van der Merwe and has been given time off to recuperate from a niggling groin injury, while utility back Johann Sadie has been given a breather of sorts by being named among the substitutes.

It means Wilhelm Steenkamp gets the nod in the second row, while JJ Engelbrecht will make his run-on debut at outside centre.

While highlighting the fact that Van der Merwe and Sadie need opportunity to recuperate, Bulls coach Frans Ludeke pointed to the bigger picture: “We have to rotate players and I thought JJ deserved an opportunity to start.”

The bench also includes Dewald Potgieter, a player who has been on the mend for the last month since suffering a freakish arm injury.

Although he had the luxury of making two changes to the side that beat the Crusaders, Ludeke was quick to remind of the threat the Lions’ pose, albeit one that hasn’t materialised since 2005 when they still aided and abetted by a sprinkling of Cheetahs.

“The Lions’ aren’t pushovers. They haven’t conceded four tries in any of their games,” Ludeke stressed, although that could now be a box the Bulls would want to tick.

Captain Pierre Spies however, is keen to draw the sting out of derby matches.

“You can’t run on emotion for 21 weeks in this competition,” advised Spies. “You have to keep perspective and focus on what you need to do. The Lions have been struggling and I’m sure they want to try and rectify things against us,” said Spies.

The bottom of the log Lions have the tough task of picking themselves up from four back-to-back defeats.

Their latest defeat was a 26-5 mauling at the hands of the Cheetahs but they stressed that there is much to learn in defeat.

“It remains to be seen whether this group is up to the test in learning to work together and gaining patience,” said coach John Mitchell.

“Over time we will grasp those two things – patience and working as a unit – and we will get the results once we have grabbed that.”

Mitchell added that although the side was at a low point, they have not hit rock bottom yet. He said the side will have to learn to move forward and fight for the result against the Bulls.

Mitchell made three changes to the starting line-up with an added three positional changes in the side that took on the Cheetahs.

Lock Paul Willemse is out with a shoulder injury and will be replaced by Stephan Greeff. Hooker Martin Bezuidenhout and utility back Butch James move to the bench, making way for Callie Visagie and Alwyn Hollenbach moves inside from outside centre.

 Jaco Taute will start at outside centre with James Kamana taking his place on the wing, and Andries Coetzee starting at fullback.

The Lions should find more stability in the forwards with Visagie and Greeff in the starting lineup. Pending his fitness this week, prop CJ van der Linde will also boost the bench.