The 24-year-old Lourens is playing for the Shimlas in his first season after joining the team from Maties this year.

Lourens still represented the five-time champions last year in the Varsity Cup.

Shimlas captain, Thabang Mahlasi, told OFM Sport that Lourens will have a big role to play.

“It's terms of George Lourens, he is definitely a bit of a secret weapon," said the second-rower.

“He runs the game absolutely amazingly at ten. He is a great general to have in the team, especially for the time of intensity we are playing at.

“We will be looking to take them to a dark place, but also, we will need to stick to our systems in place.

“That's the most important part. A team performance is much better than an individual performance.”

Monday night’s game at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein kicks off at 19:00, while in Johannesburg, Wits will be up against the Ixias.

Shimlas – 15 Litha Nkula, 14 Cham Zondeki, 13 Janco van Heyningen, 12 Janco Klinck, 11 Asanda Kunene, 10 George Lourens, 9 Chadd Adams, 8 Ruwald van der Merwe, 7 Lourens Oosthuizen, 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Thabang Mahlasi (captain), 4 Nathan Jordan, 3 Matthew Golden, 2 William Moffat, 1 Johan Schutte.

Replacements -16 Wihan Marais, 17 Melusi Mthabela, 18 Jan Meades, 19 Reinier Viljoen, 20 Kwezi Dlamini, 21 Jandré Nel, 22 Jooste Nel, 23 Luyanda Mkhize.

Maties – 15 Nevaldo Fleurs, 14 Marcqiewn Titus, 13 Anton du Toit, 12 Taigh Schoor, 11 Mike Mavovana, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Eduan Smit, 8 Jesse Johnson, 7 De Wet Marais, 6 Gift Dlamini (captain), 5 Marco van Rhyn, 4 Juan Beukes, 3 Edward Combrinck, 2 Chris Rossouw, 1 Rhynardt Rijnsburger.

Replacements - 16 Sean Swart, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Matimu Manganyi, 19 Matt Gray, 20 Siyabonga Matanda, 21 Mckyle Volmoer, 22 Waqar Solaan, 23 Wian van Zyl.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport