The Cheetahs are a team of fighters and never give up, Lions captain Josh Strauss said as his team prepares to take on the Free State side in the Currie Cup.

"We said in the week that they are a team of fighters and we know that they are always going to come at you for 80 minutes," said Strauss.

The bushy bearded eighthman added that the men from Bloemfontein would not move away from their traditional style of play.

"I don't think it is a case of who is going to play against us, we know what the Cheetahs are going to throw at us so we will just work and concentrate on that," he said.

While the Cheetahs bounced back from a less impressive start to the season when they secured a 28-22 victory over Western Province, the Lions have not lost a match after four rounds in the competition.

They did, however, lose star centre Waylon Murray as he picked up a season-ending knee injury during last week's 36-27 victory over the Blue Bulls.

This has forced coach John Mitchell to re-shuffle his backline.

Murray's place as outside centre was given to former Cheetahs speedster Lionel Mapoe with Michael Killian moving from fullback to wing where Mapoe usually plays.

"That is the way the boys finished after the unfortunate injury to Waylon and with Doppies (La Grange) not being available, that is the mix we have come up with,"

There is still uncertainty over La Grange's fitness and he might only be available for selection in two-weeks time.

Mitchell said that he has confident that Mapoe - a former Springbok Sevens players - will be up for the new challenge.

"He certainly does have the ability to go to outside centre."

SAPA