Fifita switches places with Blade Thomson, who takes his place on a reserve bench that features two further changes to the squad that lost by a solitary point to the Chiefs in Wellington.

Experienced halfback Jamison Gibson-Park comes into the squad for Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, who has remained in New Zealand, while James Marshall edges out Otere Black as the bench cover for first five and fullback.

Fifita, who will make his fourth start of 2016, resumes his locking partnership with Michael Fatialofa after the pair started together against the Rebels in Melbourne a fortnight ago.

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said he was lucky to have two players in Fifita and Thomson both equally as capable of starting or providing impact off the bench with their athleticism.

Gibson-Park’s experience made him a valuable asset behind vice-captain TJ Perenara, while Marshall had been named in the reserves against the Chiefs, but had been withdrawn to give him more time to recover from the concussion that had also kept him out of the previous two matches.

The Hurricanes come into the match off the back of a 28-27 loss to the Chiefs at Westpac Stadium, a result which snapped the team’s five match winning streak.

Boyd’s selections are a calm reaction to the side’s first loss since they were beaten by the Highlanders by just one point in round two.

The Hurricanes expect a tough match against the Lions, who top the Africa 2 Conference and have won six of their eight matches.

The men from Johannesburg have looked impressive all season with their 36-32 round two win over the Chiefs in Hamilton an early sign they would be a tough side to beat in 2016.

There only defeats have been a 34-15 loss to the Highlanders in Dunedin and a narrow 43-37 home loss to the Crusaders. Wins have come against the Sunwolves, Cheetahs, Sharks, Stormers and most recently the Kings, who they swept aside 45-10 in Port Elizabeth.

History favours the Hurricanes who have played the Lions in 15 times, in their various forms since they began the competition as Transvaal in 1996, and lost on just three occasions.

The teams last met in 2015 with the Hurricanes winning 22-8 in Johannesburg.

Hurricanes team to play the Lions:

Jason Woodward, Cory Jane, Matt Proctor, Vince Aso, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara (vc), Victor Vito, Ardie Savea, Brad Shields, Michael Fatialofa, Vaea Fifita, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Dane Coles (c), Reg Goodes. Reserves: Motu Matu’u, Chris Eves, Loni Uhila, Blade Thomson, Callum Gibbins, Jamison Gibson-Park, James Marshall, Willis Halaholo.

Courtesy of the Hurricanes