11/02/2008 22:27

Pieter Jordaan

Bloemfontein - The Cheetahs have started their last week of preparations for the Super 14 rugby competition with a deafening noise from the Vodacom Park main stand.

But what they heard on Monday was vastly different to the noise their supporters are likely to make when they play the Lions here on Saturday.

The background sound came from the equipment used by the builders who are reconstructing the main stand.

Despite the distraction, the players seemed to stay focused on the job at hand.

Jacques-Louis Potgieter, the 23-year-old who will be in the important role of flyhalf, looked at ease as coach Naka Drotské watched the Cheetahs train.

Drotské produced no real surprises when he announced his squad. The Cheetahs will take the field with the same players who were in the starting lineup for the warm-up match against the Sharks last week.

Potgieter will have the experienced Falie Oelschig as his halfback partner, with Springbok Meyer Bosman on his outside.

Conrad Barnard, who last played in the competition in 2005, and his Griquas teammate Tobie Botes are the only backline players among the substitutes.

To plug a possible hole, Springbok flank Kabamba Floors trained on the wing for a while on Monday.

Strong contributions off the bench

Drotské explained that this was a precautionary measure in the event of three backs being injured, adding that Floors was accustomed to the wing position.

Floors and Darron Nell are expected to make strong contributions off the bench if changes are made among the loose forwards. Flank forwards Juan Smith, the captain, and Heinrich Brussow will be partnered by Duanne Vermeulen at No 8.

The Cheetahs have an imposing pack, even without injured Springbok CJ van der Linde in the front row. They will fancy their chances against the Lions.

"The guys are excited," Drotské said as the players went through their drills. "If I knew in November last year where we would be at this stage, I would have been satisfied."

The noise from the building equipment was disturbing, Drotské admitted, but he also saw the positive side of it.

"When you play in front of 20 000 spectators, you also don't hear much. It could have benefits to train under these conditions," he said.

The team: Hennie Daniller, Eddie Fredericks, JW Jonker, Meyer Bosman, Gavin Passens, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Falie Oelschig, Duanne Vermeulen, Juan Smith (capt), Heinrich Brussow, Rory Duncan, Barend Pieterse, Kobus Calldo, Adriaan Strauss, Wian du Preez.

Substitutes: Richardt Strauss, Bees Roux, David de Villiers, Kabamba Floors, Darron Nell, Tobie Botes and Conrad Barnard.