In the other change to the backline, Duncan Saal returns from a long injury lay-off and will start on the left wing in the place of Rosko Specman. Specman is unavailable for the match as he will be getting married on Saturday.

Up front, Marnus van der Merwe will start at hooker with Chucky van der Westhuizen being rotated to the bench.

Cheetahs coach, Hawies Fourie, told OFM Sport that Fortuin deserves a start while it may have been a bit risky to start Masuku.

“Siya couldn't play against Province because he had a bit of flu and then he got the knock in training at the end of last week, so he couldn't train on Monday and only joined us on Tuesday.

“He would have only had one training session in the last two-and-a-half weeks.

“If we decided to start it would have been a bit of a risk. We had to put him through Tuesday's training session to make sure that he will be ready to be selected. That's the reason why we started to go with Reinhardt.

“He played really well against Province. He attacked well, he took on the line, he has a good passing game and is a good defender. So, we decided to stick with him for the game on Friday against the Lions.”

Friday night’s game at Ellis Park kicks off at 19:00.

Lions - 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Manuel Rass, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 André Warner (captain), 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Cal Smid, 4 Lunga Ncube, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 JP Smith.

Replacements - 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Junior White, 20 Lindo Ncusane, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Luke Rossouw, 23 Ilunga Mukendi.

Cheetahs - 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Duncan Saal, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Mihlali Mosi, 7 Jeandre Rudolph, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekeke, 4 Aidon Davis, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Cameron Dawson.

Replacements - 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Marne Coetzee, 19 Ockie Barnard, 20 Andisa Ntsila, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Robert Ebersohn.