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Cape Town - Johan Goosen says he is feeling good as he eyes a possible return to the playing field when the Free State Cheetahs tackle the Blue Bulls in a Currie Cup encounter in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
It was revealed on Wednesday that the Springbok could make a surprise return to action after seemingly making a miraculous recovery from an appendectomy, after his potentially season-ending knee injury sustained while playing for the Cheetahs in the Super Rugby competition earlier this year.
Goosen has been out of action since March and an untimely appendectomy has further delayed his protracted return to competitive action.
He was not named in the Free State squad for Saturday's game but could be included on the bench if the Cheetahs fitness staff deem it fit for him to play.
According to the Volksblad website, Goosen looked in tip-top shape when he trained with his team-mates on Wednesday.
Should he be declared fit, he will replace Piet Lindeque on the bench and be given 15-20 minutes against the Bulls.
"Neither my knee or my stomach bother me. I feel good," said Goosen.
He did, however, state that he would accept the decision if he is not cleared to play.
The Cheetahs are currently third of the log and look likely to stay in the top four.
The Lions are one point behind them in fourth spot but the men from Johannesburg host the struggling Griquas on Saturday and are expected to claim maximum points.
Therefore - should the Lions do just that - the only way the Cheetahs could fall out of the top four is if the Bulls beat them with a bonus point and at the same time prevent Free State from getting any points themselves.
The Bulls are currently five points behind the Cheetahs in fifth spot.
Kick-off at the Free State Stadium is at 17:05 on Saturday.
Teams:
Free State Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen
Substitutes: 16 AJ Le Roux, 17 Schalk van der Merwe, 18 Teboho Mohoje, 19 Freddy Ngoza,20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Piet Lindeque/Johan Goosen, 22 Willie du Plessis
Blue Bulls:
15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Jono Ross (captain), 5 David Bullbring, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Marcel van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Grant Hattingh, 19 Jean Cook, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 Francois Venter, 22 Clayton Blommetjies
HAVE YOUR SAY: Should the Cheetahs risk the injury-prone Goosen so late in the season? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
It was revealed on Wednesday that the Springbok could make a surprise return to action after seemingly making a miraculous recovery from an appendectomy, after his potentially season-ending knee injury sustained while playing for the Cheetahs in the Super Rugby competition earlier this year.
Goosen has been out of action since March and an untimely appendectomy has further delayed his protracted return to competitive action.
He was not named in the Free State squad for Saturday's game but could be included on the bench if the Cheetahs fitness staff deem it fit for him to play.
According to the Volksblad website, Goosen looked in tip-top shape when he trained with his team-mates on Wednesday.
Should he be declared fit, he will replace Piet Lindeque on the bench and be given 15-20 minutes against the Bulls.
"Neither my knee or my stomach bother me. I feel good," said Goosen.
He did, however, state that he would accept the decision if he is not cleared to play.
The Cheetahs are currently third of the log and look likely to stay in the top four.
The Lions are one point behind them in fourth spot but the men from Johannesburg host the struggling Griquas on Saturday and are expected to claim maximum points.
Therefore - should the Lions do just that - the only way the Cheetahs could fall out of the top four is if the Bulls beat them with a bonus point and at the same time prevent Free State from getting any points themselves.
The Bulls are currently five points behind the Cheetahs in fifth spot.
Kick-off at the Free State Stadium is at 17:05 on Saturday.
Teams:
Free State Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen
Substitutes: 16 AJ Le Roux, 17 Schalk van der Merwe, 18 Teboho Mohoje, 19 Freddy Ngoza,20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Piet Lindeque/Johan Goosen, 22 Willie du Plessis
Blue Bulls:
15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Jono Ross (captain), 5 David Bullbring, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Marcel van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Grant Hattingh, 19 Jean Cook, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 Francois Venter, 22 Clayton Blommetjies
HAVE YOUR SAY: Should the Cheetahs risk the injury-prone Goosen so late in the season? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
