We want to win the last two games - Fourie

"We want to win the last two games."

That’s the mission according Emirates Lions’ defence guru and Springbok legend Jaque Fourie as his side welcome Welsh outfit Scarlets in Round 17 of the Vodacom Unite Rugby Championship this Mother’s Day (3pm kick-off).

Fourie says the Johannesburg franchise are not concerning themselves with other results, instead the focus is collecting a full house of points in their remaining two home games.

“For us at this stage we are not worried about permutations; we want to win the last two games with five points,” said a bullish Fourie.

“Scarlets are a quality outfit; they have come a long way this season and we can’t think it’s going to be an easy game. We need to rock up on Sunday and the following week too. They have shown (Ospreys) that that they are probably our bogey team in the last few years.”

In team news, Springbok Ruan Venter returns to the fold to start at lock this week, with the other only change in the starting XV being that of Nico Steyn who comes in for the injured Morne van den Berg at scrumhalf. The back row of JC Pretorius, Renzo du Plessis and Jarod Cairns continue their combination, as does the centre pairing of Bronson Mills and Henco van Wyk.

Young scrumhalf Layton Horn provides cover from the bench with the experience of Darrien Landsberg and PJ Botha also on standby.

Emirates Lions starting XV: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Edwill van der Merwe; 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Nico Steyn; 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Renzo du Plessis, 6 JC Pretorius; 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Ruan Venter; 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (capt), 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Sibabalo Qoma, 21 Layton Horn, 22 Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.

SUNDAY

Emirates Lions v Scarlets

Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg – KO 2pm IRE & UK/3pm ITA & SA

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 104th league game)

AR 1: Griffin Colby (SARU) AR 2: Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)

TMO: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)

Live on: SuperSport, S4C, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv