Springbok legend Danie Gerber has a simple message for John Smit's South African team, as they prepare to tackle the British and Irish Lions in a three-Test series: "Dominate the forward exchanges."

Gerber, a veteran from the isolation era and one of the world's most explosive midfielders of his time, is an assistant coach to the Southern Kings - the Lions' next opponents and also the tourists' last game before the Test series.

The B&I Lions face the Kings in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday, with the unbeaten tourists then heading to Durban for the first Test on Saturday, June 20.

Gerber, speaking exclusively to iafrica.com after his team's practice on Sunday, described Tuesday's outing as an "auspicious occasion" for his team.

But he is just as keen to discuss the prospects of the Springboks, for whom he played in 24 Tests from 1980 to 1992. He still boasts one of the most impressive strike rates in international rugby - 19 tries in his 24 Tests for the Boks.

However, despite his obvious affinity for an expansive and entertaining game, Gerber believes the Boks must take the Lions head on in the forward exchanges.

"They don't have too many fancy tricks," he told iafrica.com, when discussing the B&I Lions.

"Their ball control is exceptional, their line-outs have improved throughout the tour and there's no doubt their scrums are rock solid," Gerber said, adding: "You have to take them on up front and dominate them in the forwards, otherwise you will come off second best.

"As I said, they don't produce too much trickery, but they do the basics very well.

"When they do take the ball out wide, they have the ability to run into spaces.

"That's why I feel that if the Boks can dominate up front - in the scrums and line-outs - it will be a very interesting Test," said Gerber, adding that he backs his compatriots to edge the series.

The Bok legend, discussing the Eastern Cape team's prospects for Tuesday, admitted that getting together only a week before the game has its drawbacks.

Although the guys have come together nicely as a unit and there is a great team spirit, Gerber said there wasn't enough time to introduce many new things into the Kings' game plan.

"Obviously there is not much you can do, because some of the guys only arrived last Wednesday," Gerber said.

You just work on the basics. Yes, you may add one or two minor things, but not a lot.

"You can't try and overload them with info, it will just cause too many problems.

"However, these guys are all professional players and they know what it is all about. As I said, they are quality players and will be able to adjust."

Gerber also revealed that they are expecting the purpose-built new Nelson Mandela Stadium to his well in excess of 40,00 spectators on Tuesday - not just the highest crowd for this tour, but maybe even a record for a non-Test match anywhere in the world.

"It is an auspicious occasion for the players to play against the Lions and to play in that stadium will be an unbelievable experience," Gerber told this website.

"We're expecting more that 40,000 people and that will create a special atmosphere and they will certainly lift the players."

It was also confirmed that Bulls hooker Derick Küun will captain the Southern Kings and not Springbok flank Solly Tyibilika, as first thought.

The starting Kings' XV features eight players with current or former Bulls connections and four from Western Province.

However, there is an interesting addition to the replacement bench. One-time Springbok hooker Delarey du Preez will become the only player to face the British and Irish Lions twice on successive tours to South Africa.

Du Preez featured against the 1997 Lions and the semi-retired hooker is back to play against the Class of 2009.

Southern Kings: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Wylie Human, 13 Frikkie Welsh, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Mat Turner, 10 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Darron Nell, 7 Solly Tyibilika, 6 Mpho Mbiyozo, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Marco Wentzel, 3 Ruan Vermeulen, 2 Derick Küun (captain), 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements: 16 Delarey du Preez, 17 Deon Greyling, 18 Lungelo Payi, 19 Dries van Schalkwyk, 20 Josh Fowles, 21 Bevin Fortuin, 22 Mzwandile Stick.

Date: Tuesday, June 16
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen

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