Lions coach Johann Ackermann conceded that he was forced to make changes to his team because of injuries more notable that to Andries Coetzee who rolled his ankle at training this week. Jaco van der Walt will start at fullback while JW Bell is set to make his Super Rugby debut if called off the bench in the Lions Vodacom Super Rugby clash against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday the 23rd of April 2016. Ackermann revealed that Coetzee is likely to return to action at the beginning of July while hooker Malcolm Marx and prop Julian Redelinghuys are also going to be on the sidelines for another week or two.