Former referee Jaco Peyper will oversee a new 'elite' referees panel created by SA Rugby to help South African officials to make the step up to international level.
Beaten last weekend away to champions Northampton, Quins have included full-back Leigh Halfpenny for Jarrod Evans, wing Caden Murley for Will Joseph and scrum-half Will Porter for the benched Danny Care in their backs.
England fly-half Marcus Smtih will start at full-back on Friday night for Harlequins against Gallagher Premiership champions Northampton Saints.
Leigh Halfpenny will make his competitive Harlequins debut on Sunday against Sale Sharks in the first round of the Gallagher Premiership.
Stephan Lewies has stepped down as Harlequins captain ahead of the new season, with England No.8 Alex Dombrandt replacing him.
On a weekend when their South African Conference rivals – the Bulls, Sharks and Jaguares – all failed to win, it was the Lions who managed to register a vital victory, moving them off the bottom of the table.
One South African star could be set to turn down big money in England and instead stay in South Africa, as one of the first to agree to terms under South African Rugby's new player contracting model.
It is not a good sign when the Stormers' pre-season headlines are all about tumultuous and turbulent events off the field.
SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2018: In the second instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season starting with the South African conference we look at the Stormers.