Lions coach Swys de Bruin admits he would like to give a number of players a rest after the first five weeks of the Super Rugby season, but a couple of poor displays of late might mean he delays those plans.
The Lions, who lost to the Blues and recorded a tighter-than-comfortable win over the Sunwolves, now head off for a fixture against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires on Saturday, before returning home for games against the Crusaders and Stormers in the coming weeks.
De Bruin has suggested he would have like to have kept some players at home for the Argentina trip, but feels now is not the right time.
"We can't do that at this stage. This time around we can't leave anybody at home," he told reporters after the 40-38 scare against the Sunwolves on Saturday.
"We said from the beginning we are using a rotation policy. A few guys need a run. A guy like Robbie Coetzee for instance. I've got so much respect for him but Malcolm [Marx] fights such a good battle upfront that it is difficult to give Robbie a chance.
"I might look to give Robbie a chance next week just to get fresh legs. From a national point of view we also need to look after Malcolm."
The Lions have won four of their five Super Rugby games this season without looking particularly convincing, but De Bruin says, perhaps with a hint of self-deprecation, that they will be underdogs in the Argentine capital.
"It is nice to go there as the underdog. We never won there‚ so it is a challenge in our favour," he said.
"It is good for the group to get away together. We are looking to maximise opportunity by scoring five tries or more. We'll work on our system not to give away so many."
The Lions beat the Jaguares 47-27 when they met at Ellis Park on February 24.