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Cape Town - Stormers coach Allister Coetzee says Jean de Villiers will be back to lead the Cape franchise against the Bulls in a Super Rugby clash at Newlands on Saturday.
The Bok skipper will replace Damian de Allende at inside centre who has a light ankle sprain.
Fullback Joe Pietersen is also suffering with an ankle injury and a haematoma of the quad.
"Damian and Juan have been playing really well.
"But having said that, Jean has been our captain and has been playing really good rugby at 12.
"Obviously he will definitely come back into the side.
"One also has to be consistent where that is concerned," Coetzee said at the High Performance Centre in Bellville on Monday.
Both Pietersen and De Allende will be given until Wednesday to prove their fitness.
If Pietersen does not make it, Gio Aplon will take his place in the last line of defence, with Bryan Habana and Gerhard van den Heever on the wings.
"Gio has done duty for us there (at fullback) before and Gerhard did very well for us there this weekend, but I think we will stick with that combination if Joe is not right.
"We don't see Damian as an option on the wing.
"We have gone that route before and I just think he is too inexperienced especially playing against a quality team like the Bulls at this level.
"You would actually be wasting his talent there.
"Both Gio (Aplon) and Bryan (Habana) are still there and you wouldn’t want to make that move.
"We also have Cheslyn (Kolbe) here who has attended all our meetings, but I think it will be silly just to chuck him in.
"There is plenty of time for Cheslyn in the Currie Cup and one wants to make sure you set him up to utilise his expertise.
"He needs to get use to the systems.
"We don't want to chuck him in a game like this under-prepared," explained Coetzee.
The Stormers did not have a training session on Monday and opted to have a meeting and a video session instead.
"Obviously it's a massive game and you want to get the detail out of the way on a Monday.
"You normally have a situation where you have six to seven players not training because of injury.
"The reasoning is to get the meetings out of the way today and then start full training tomorrow with full double training sessions and perhaps two sessions on Wednesday, and then your captain's run on Friday, which will give you your five sessions for the week."
Coetzee also confirmed that flanker Rynhardt Elstadt and tighthead prop Pat Cilliers, who returned from injury off the bench against the Kings in Port Elizabeth last Saturday, came through the game unscathed and should be ready for action against the Bulls.
Bok number eight Duane Vermeulen and hooker Tiaan Liebenberg are still undergoing rehabilitation and will not be considered for Saturday's clash.
The Bok skipper will replace Damian de Allende at inside centre who has a light ankle sprain.
Fullback Joe Pietersen is also suffering with an ankle injury and a haematoma of the quad.
"Damian and Juan have been playing really well.
"But having said that, Jean has been our captain and has been playing really good rugby at 12.
"Obviously he will definitely come back into the side.
"One also has to be consistent where that is concerned," Coetzee said at the High Performance Centre in Bellville on Monday.
Both Pietersen and De Allende will be given until Wednesday to prove their fitness.
If Pietersen does not make it, Gio Aplon will take his place in the last line of defence, with Bryan Habana and Gerhard van den Heever on the wings.
"Gio has done duty for us there (at fullback) before and Gerhard did very well for us there this weekend, but I think we will stick with that combination if Joe is not right.
"We don't see Damian as an option on the wing.
"We have gone that route before and I just think he is too inexperienced especially playing against a quality team like the Bulls at this level.
"You would actually be wasting his talent there.
"Both Gio (Aplon) and Bryan (Habana) are still there and you wouldn’t want to make that move.
"We also have Cheslyn (Kolbe) here who has attended all our meetings, but I think it will be silly just to chuck him in.
"There is plenty of time for Cheslyn in the Currie Cup and one wants to make sure you set him up to utilise his expertise.
"He needs to get use to the systems.
"We don't want to chuck him in a game like this under-prepared," explained Coetzee.
The Stormers did not have a training session on Monday and opted to have a meeting and a video session instead.
"Obviously it's a massive game and you want to get the detail out of the way on a Monday.
"You normally have a situation where you have six to seven players not training because of injury.
"The reasoning is to get the meetings out of the way today and then start full training tomorrow with full double training sessions and perhaps two sessions on Wednesday, and then your captain's run on Friday, which will give you your five sessions for the week."
Coetzee also confirmed that flanker Rynhardt Elstadt and tighthead prop Pat Cilliers, who returned from injury off the bench against the Kings in Port Elizabeth last Saturday, came through the game unscathed and should be ready for action against the Bulls.
Bok number eight Duane Vermeulen and hooker Tiaan Liebenberg are still undergoing rehabilitation and will not be considered for Saturday's clash.
