Sunwolves lock Sam Wykes will mark a major milestone this weekend when he wins his 100th Super Rugby cap.

The 29-year-old Australian was named Thursday night in the starting XV for the Round 15 game with the Lions at Johannesburg's Ellis Park, as Filo Tiatia's side resumes action following the June test break.

Wykes won 87 caps for the Western Force before he headed to Japan in 2015 on a two-year contract with Top League side Coca-Cola Red Sparks. He joined the Sunwolves this year and upon being released by Cola was signed by Panasonic Wild Knights earlier this week.

"There hasn't been too many wins in those 100 games but I am very humble and grateful to be able to achieve this milestone with two awesome clubs," said Wykes.

"I'll celebrate it with the boys after the game but hopefully we can do the job first and we'll worry about that stuff afterwards."

Tiatia was full of praise for Wykes and in particular the role he has assumed in the fledgling Japanese side.

"He's been around for such a long time and his leadership within the group is well appreciated amongst the players as well as the coaches," he said.

Willie Britz, who along with Wykes has been a major figure in keeping morale high during a difficult season, will captain the side from No. 8.

"Willie is well experienced with Super Rugby and knows the Lions pretty well," Tiatia said of the 28-year-old South African, who played 15 games for the Johannesburg-based side and 12 for the Cheetahs before he headed to Japan in 2015.

Britz lines up with Shokei Kin and Yoshitaka Tokunaga in the back row, Wykes partners Kotaro Yatabe in the engine room, while Masataka Mikami, Atsushi Sakate and Yasuo Yamaji make up the front row.

In the backs, Derek Carpenter has recovered from the infected foot that kept him out of last week's test match with Ireland and links up with Ryohei Yamanaka in the centers.

Keisuke Uchida partners Jumpei Ogura at halfback, while Teruya Goto, Takaaki Nakazuru and Yasutaka Sasakura make up the back three.

There is one potential new cap on the bench in flyhalf Rikiya Matsuda, who joins Kaito Shigeno and Kotaro Matsuhashi as the reserve backs.

Takeshi Hino, Koki Yamamoto, Takuma Asahara, Uwe Helu and Malgene Ilaua are the back-up forwards.

The squad flew to South Africa in two groups -- on Saturday directly after the second test with Ireland and on Sunday -- and have spent the week getting acclimatized to the altitude as they get set to take on last year's Super Rugby runners-up.

"We know it's going to be a tough one," said Britz. "We know the Lions are one of the best teams in the competition so we are going to have to up our game, work on our strengths and improve our weaknesses."

The Sunwolves are currently bottom of the South African group having won one and lost 11 games to date. The Lions, who lost last year's final 20-3 to the Hurricanes, are top with 12 victories and one defeat to their name.

But Britz is hoping the team can upset the odds to honor their history-making teammate.

"It's a special week for Sam Wykes playing his 100th cap and we just want to make it special for him."