The Dragons will be playing at home for the first time in the competition this season, and they will target a first victory.

In round one the Dragons played to a draw against the Warriors at St George’s Park, while last week they battled the Knights and the elements in a draw at the Mangaung Oval.

There is a history between the Dragons and Lions that dates back to the franchise days, and numerous of the players plying their trade in Johannesburg now started in the North West and they include the likes of Rassie van der Dussen.

The Dragons captain, Wihan Lubbe, who scored an unbeaten 82 in the second innings in Bloemfontein, told OFM Sport that they always want to measure themselves against the Lions.

Raynard van Tonder. Photo: Morgan Piek

“I think you hit the nail on the head, it’s definitely always a game we want to play well and we want to do well in,” said the Proteas batter.

“So yeah, we’re certainly excited for it. I think, as you mentioned, we came away with a good draw in both our first two games.

“Obviously not ideal starts in either of those games and to fight back and sort of get draws out of them, we'll definitely take those.

Wihan Lubbe, Migael Pretorius, and Ruan de Swardt.

“Then I think throughout the course of the two games, there’ve been a couple of guys that have put up their hands nicely and I think, we’re sort of just waiting for that complete performance, which hopefully comes this week against the Lions.”

The seamers Kerwin Mungroo and Migael Pretorius both did well in Bloemfontein, while with the batter Raynard van Tonder’s 84* in the second innings, Ruan de Swardt’s 67 stood out along with Lubbe’s second innings contribution. Rubin Hermann also scored a fine 56 in the first innings.

Play at the JB Marks Oval is scheduled to get underway tomorrow morning at 10:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh