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Burger is back

The Stormers look set to receive a timely boost ahead of their Super Rugby showdown with the Cheetahs.

Springbok veteran Schalk Burger and rookie prop Oliver Kebble are available for selection for the trip to Bloemfontein on Saturday.

On the flipside there is Bok prop Pat Cilliers and flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis, who have both been ruled out.

Cilliers (right knee) saw a specialist on Monday and he has a meniscus tear.

Coach Allister Coetzee said that if the front row forward requires surgery he could be out of action for five to six weeks.

Catrakilis suffered a fractured nose early in the encounter with the Lions.

Both Kebble and Burger missed this past weekend's 18-3 win over the Lions, but the loss of Cilliers and Catrakilis is a blow for the Cape side.

Frans Malherbe and Sailosi Tagicakibau sat out training on Monday, whilst senior men Duane Vermeulen and Jean de Villiers did their flush-out in the morning and sat out the afternoon session.

Prop Malherbe, who was sick in bed at home, Vermeulen (No.8) and De Villiers (centre) are not in any doubt for the Cheetahs clash.

Other players still on the injury list include hooker Siyabonga Ntubeni (calf muscle), wings Kobus van Wyk (abductor muscle) and Cheslin Kolbe (knee) – all who will be given one more training session to prove their fitness.

"There are a few positives [injury-wise], but – as a coach – you're never happy with your injury list," Coetzee said.

"You always want it [the injury list] to be as short as possible. Injuries are always challenging, but it's part of the game and you need to make your plans accordingly.

"After reviewing the Lions game again this weekend, it was an encouraging performance," added Coetzee.

"We know we've not achieved anything as yet, but we're constantly striving to look better.

"We spoke about our discipline against the Lions, we know it wasn't good, but we were not happy with our work at the breakdown – also looking at our body position and how we carried the ball into contact."

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