De Villiers back for Lions derby
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The Stormers will be buoyed by the return of some of their players this week after the bye, none more so than skipper Jean de Villiers.
The Stormers injury list has been a contentious point this season, but the bye sees not only the return of their influential captain but also Springbok prop Pat Cilliers.
Lock Jurrie van Vuuren, who featured for the Cape Town-based team on their overseas tour, is also available for selection against the Lions at Newlands.
However, hookers Siyabonga Ntubeni and Tiaan Liebenberg as well as wing Kobus van Wyk are not available for selection due to injuries sustained before the Stormers break.
There is potentially more good news for the Stormers who are still assessing flank Schalk Burger and wing Cheslin Kolbe – they will be given until later in the week to see if they will be ready for the derby.
Extended squad members, hookers Mike Willemse (sternum) and lock Mthetheleli Fuzani (hip pointer), are not available for selection this week after picking up minor injuries on Vodacom Cup duty this past weekend.
“We’ve [all] had a good week off, ahead of our next seven-week cycle," coach Allister Coetzee said.
“We trained well this morning, you can see the guys have benefited from the week. Of course, our focus is on this weekend and we’re determined to get back to winning ways.
“We’ve got nine matches left this season… of which seven are South African derbies, so it’s important to start this next phase of our campaign with a win.
"As you know, winning breeds confidence and you can see that with a team like the Western Force.”
The Stormers will host the Lions at Newlands this coming Saturday.
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