Paul O'Connell leads a youthful looking Lions team in their third match this Saturday afternoon. The Lions team to face the Free State Cheetahs is as follows:

1. Andrew Sheridan (Sale/England)
2. Ross Ford (Edinburgh/Scotland)
3. Euan Murray (Northampton/Scotland)
4. Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster/Ireland)
5. Paul O'Connell (c) (Munster/Ireland)
6. Stephen Ferris (Ulster/Ireland)
7. Joe Worsley (Wasps/England)
8. Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues/Wales)

9. Harry Ellis (Leicester/England)
10. James Hook (Ospreys/Wales)
11. Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales)
12. Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster/Ireland)
13. Keith Earls (Munster/Ireland)
14. Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
15. Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales)

Replacements

16. Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales)
17. Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
18. Simon Shaw (Wasps/England)
19. Nathan Hines (Perpignan/Scotland)
20. Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster/Ireland)
21. Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland)
22. Mike Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland)

Geech hands first starts to Fitzgerald, Ellis, Hook, Halfpenny, Murray, Ford, Powell, Ferris and O'Callaghan and has, barring injury to any of these players, met his target of giving every member of the touring part a start in the first three games. Jamie Roberts, Tommy Bowe and David Wallace earn well deserved breaks and will not feature on Saturday.

Unlike last Wednesday, no players back up a starting berth with a second start, although 7 of the matchday 22 played some role in the Golden Lions game.

Keith Earls is handed a second start in the 13 shirt and has a chance to redeem himself after a shaky opener in Rustenburg last Saturday. His centre partner, Fitzgerald, who often plays on the wing is asked to play in his alternate position. Hopefully the two will gel well given their familiarity with each other through the Ireland setup. Riki Flutey has failed to overcome a knee injury and remains unavailable. Gordon D'Arcy, flown out this week as centre cover, is named on the bench.

The squad 22 comprises 7 Irishmen, 7 Welshmen, 4 Englishmen and 4 Scots. Ross Ford and Euan Murray, both offered their first start will be looking to stake their claim on a competitive front row place while Ellis and Hook will want to respond to the excellent performance of Mike Phillips and Stephen Jones.

The British & Irish Lions meet the Vodacom Cheetahs in Bloemfontein at the Vodacom Park on Saturday. Kickoff is 2:00PM BST/3.00PM Local.