Cape Town - Stormers coach Allister Coetzee is hopeful that the injured trio of Andries Bekker, Duane Vermeulen and Reinhardt Elstadt could be fit to play in their first Super Rugby clash of the season.

Springbok lock Bekker missed last year's Tri-Nations and World Cup campaigns due to an ankle injury on which he later had surgery.

Coetzee told the website, Keo.zo.za, that Bekker has been working hard in rehab and he's confident the 2,08m lock could play in their first match against the Hurricanes at Newlands on February 25.

Eightman Vermeulen and lock Elstadt, both out with knee injuries, have also made encouraging progress.

"All three have started running although they are yet to participate in the full on-field sessions," said Coetzee.

"I’d say that at this stage they look 70% likely to play against the Hurricanes.

"They are medically fit, but I’d like to see them getting some game time in the pre-season games, at least 40 minutes, before I consider them for the Super Rugby competition."

The Stormers, who are currently on a training camp in Hermanus, will play four warm-up matches against Boland, the Lions, the Cheetahs and the Eastern Province Kings.