Sean Everitt has made four changes to his team to face  the Lions in round three of the United Rugby Championship, but the Edinburgh head coach expects to be without Emiliano Boffelli for several months due to his back injury. 

Boffelli was due to be on the bench for the season opener against Leinster but withdrew shortly before kick-off with a flare-up of a back problem that limited the Argentina fullback to just seven club outings last season. 

Everitt said: "He's going to have to undergo a surgical opinion from surgeons and see what the next step is on his way back to recovery.

Emiliano Boffelli is likely to miss an extended period with his back injuryEmiliano Boffelli is likely to miss an extended period with his back injury (Image: SNS) "We're looking at probably four to five months here.”

The absence of the Pumas back three star is compounded with Harry Paterson - another who missed large chunks of last season - also sidelined after picking up an injury in pre-season. 

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But there was better news about the fitness of the Scotland international.

"Harry is back home and has recovered from his laceration and he's training.

"Unfortunately that injury happened in the fifth week of pre-season so he's got a bit of work to do to become game-ready.

"Hopefully we're looking at him being available for selection when we get home or the week after." 

Everitt's team to face the Lions shows four changes from last Saturday's defeat to the Bulls. 

Dave Cherry and Mark Bennett are both out injured, while the Edinburgh head coach has rotated his half-back partnership. 

That means Ali Price and Ross Thompson, starters in the first two games, drop to the bench and are replaced in the starting XV by Ben Vellacott and Ben Healy. 

Ben Healy has been handed the number 10 jerseyBen Healy has been handed the number 10 jersey (Image: SNS)

Ewan Ashman takes over from Cherry - who Everitt said would have been rested for the match in Johannesburg regardless of his injury - at hooker, while Ross McCann is handed the number 13 jersey.

Everitt provided an update on Bennett, who limped off in the early stages of the defeat at Loftus Versfeld. 

"Unfortunately, he's got quite a big tear in his quad, so he'll be out for several weeks," the Edinburgh coach added. 

On the bench, Paddy Harrison could make his first appearance of the season after making his Scotland debut in the summer. 

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"We want to give Paddy Harrison an opportunity," Everitt said. 

"We want to give Paddy as much opportunity as he can to develop in this competition."

Ben Muncaster and Mosese Tuipulotu are also back from injury to take their places among the Edinburgh replacements. 

The teams

Lions: Quan Horn, Rabz Maxwane, Erich Cronje, Rynhardt Jonker, Edwill van der Merwe, Kade Wolhuter, Morne van den Berg; Juan Schoeman, PJ Botha, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Reinard Nothnagel, Darrien Landsberg, JC Pretorius, Jarod Cairns, Francke Horn (captain) 

Replacements: Franco Marais, Heiko Pohlmann, Conraad van Vuuren, Ruben Schoeman, Renzo du Plessis, Sanele Nohamba, Marius Louw, Henco van Wyk

Edinburgh: Wes Goosen, Darcy Graham, Ross McCann, Matt Scott, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben Healy, Ben Vellacott (co-captain); Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, Paul Hill, Marshall Sykes, Grant Gilchrist (co-captain), Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Magnus Bradbury

Replacements: Paddy Harrison, Boan Venter, D'Arcy Rae, Jamie Hodgson, Ben Muncaster, Ali Price, Ross Thompson, Mosese Tuipulotu