THE Lions' budding reputation as the Manchester City of South African rugby will be enhanced when they announce a lucrative jersey sponsor this week.

Super rugby's perennial under-performers, whose fortunes have drastically changed since businessmen Robert Gumede and Ivor Ichikowitz bought into them, will announce a deal on Thursday under which cellular giant MTN will be the main benefactor on their jerseys.

The contract, which was brokered by Megapro, is believed to be worth R20-million a year for the next five years.

Lions president Kevin de Klerk would neither confirm nor deny the identity of the new sponsor, but agreed the company had been generous: "It'll probably be one of the bigger sponsorships in Super rugby to date, and we're very enthused."

MTN replace insurance company Auto & General, which backed the Lions during the lean years.

"They were with us for a number of years, and we're grateful. But they elected not to participate further," said De Klerk.

The MTN agreement is over and above the R30-million (a year over three years) deal signed by the Lions and their new business partners Gumede and Ichikowitz.

The Cheetahs, who were so desperate to secure a sponsor this week that even coach Naka Drotske had to pull out his contact book, might be handed a reprieve tomorrow.

Apparently they had a meeting with a company which has agreed to sponsor them in principle on Friday.

The deal, contingent on the provision of additional information requested by the company, will likely be signed tomorrow.