A lifting fixture for removing the upper internals from a nuclear reactor to provide access to the core during a refueling that does not require flooding of a refueling canal. A shield plate is integral to a lifting rig used to remove the upper internals. The shield plate is sized to be supported on the reactor vessel upper flange and to cover the reactor vessel opening with the closure head removed. The shield plate has openings that are in-line with the control rod assembly drive rod travel housings. Control rod assembly drive rods can be accessed through the openings. The lifting rig allows personnel to decouple the drive rods from the rod cluster control assemblies. The lifting fixture enables the decoupled drive rods to be lifted from the core with the upper internals, while shielding maintenance personnel without flooding the area above the reactor.