**The battle to top the South African Shield intensifies as the Emirates Lions host the Cell C Sharks, with the winners guaranteed to sit at the summit come the end of the weekend's action.** Ivan van Rooyen's Lions are perhaps surprise leaders after five rounds of matches - a position they earned with the help of a mightily impressive 37-19 win at the DHL Stormers in their last Vodacom United Rugby Championship outing. The Johannesburg outfit welcome back Pieter Jansen van Vuren for the fixture after the lock was sidelined through injury during the first phase of the season. Aphelele Fassi makes his first URC appearance as the Sharks' starting full-back, forming an exciting back three with Makazole Mapimpi and Sbu Nkosi either side of him, while Lukhanyo Am captains the side.
