Eloff said on Monday he is very happy with his squad.

"The pre-season matches have given me the answers I needed. I have been able to select a squad that is on par with the best," Eloff told this website.

"I am also extremely happy with our fitness. Our second half showing against the Bulls demonstrated this."

Eloff is displaying a quiet optimism in his widely-regarded motley crew. It is an optimism that belies an even quieter sense of confidence.

The squad is a mixture of precocious talent and players who would be looking to rejuvenate their careers.

The Lions have become something of a haven for ailing Springboks, all in need of rejuvenation after injury or lack of form.

Ashwin Willemse has been included and is busy finalising his rehabilitation.

Solly Tyibilika, after a Springbok cameo last year, needs to prove himself anew after being discarded by both the Boks and the Sharks.

And Lawrence Sephaka's time is running out to make a return to the form he displayed in the Tri-Nations in 2002.

"Both Solly and Sephaka need to sharpen their form, and they will probably get game time in the Vodacom Cup to that end. Both have the potential to return to the Springbok side," Eloff said.

"We will be developing Solly into an out-an-out fetcher this year."

Eloff is supremely satisfied with the depth he has at tighthead prop, with Bertus Smit being the front runner, whilst fresh talent like Kenny McKenzie and Brian Mujati wait in reserve.

A disappointment has been an injury to Gerrit Mostert, which will see the young lock out of action for six months.

Wylie Human, however, is set to return from injury within weeks, and will no doubt play a role in the campaign.

A rising star in the squad to watch out for is former Natal Schools player Jannie Boshoff. Boshoff still qualifies for Under-21 rugby and hails from that traditional bastion of schoolboy rugby, Maritzburg College.

Heinke van der Merwe is also an exciting prospect at prop, and he forms part of a front row which could have the strength to create havoc in the set pieces.

One does get the impression that a lot of this team's success will depend on the Springbok triumvirate of skipper André Pretorius, namesake Jaco, and fellow centre Jaque Fourie.

If these players remain available and space is created for Jaco Pretorius and Jaque Fourie to gel together, the Lions may just be 2007's surprise package, as they prepare to continue their exciting brand of rugby they played in the 2006 Currie Cup.

Lions squad: Willem Alberts, Jannie Boshoff, Ashton Constant, Jacques Cronjé, Jaque Fourie, Gordon Gilfillan, Cobus Grobbelaar, Cobus Grobler, Enrico Januarie, Ernst Joubert, Doppies la Grange, Colin Lloyd, Louis Ludik, Kenny McKenzie, Brian Mujati, André Pretorius, Jaco Pretorius, Ethienne Reynecke, Earl Rose, Lawrence Sephaka, Bertus Smit, Louis Strydom, Solly Tyibilika, Franco van der Merwe, Heinke van der Merwe, Jaco van Schalkwyk, Anton van Zyl, Jano Vermaak, Willie Wepener, Ashwin Willemse.

By Chris Waldburger