Vermeulen back in action

Stormers loose forward Duane Vermeulen trained on Thursday and is likely to start in the semifinal next week if he is passed fit.

The versatile back row star injured his knee in the victory over the Reds in Brisbane in mid-April, and his return at No.8 - a problematic position for the Cape side this year - would be a huge boost ahead of the knock-outs.

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee said that although Vermeulen is not ready to participate in full contact sessions yet and will have to be monitored very carefully, he is likely to start the semifinal at Newlands if he proves his fitness.

He said: "We'll have to watch his progress very carefully, and have to test him in situations at training to make sure he's ready to play a match.

"If he is ready to play, it's more likely that we'll give him a run in the starting XV rather than bring him on as a substitute.

"It's easier to pull him off, if there's problem, than find out he's battling if he comes on as a substitute," Coetzee explained.

There was more good news on the injury front for the Stormers, with Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth back to full fitness, and he was able to train alongside flyhalf Gary van Aswegen who made his return to training from long-term injury.

"Eben is 100 percent fit and he's been match ready for a week now," said the Stormers coach.

Coetzee said that Springbok star Schalk Burger was responding well to treatment on his knee, and that he was being tested on a daily basis.

"Schalk is not ready to join in team training but he's being tested all the time," he said.

Several players such as Peter Grant, Rynhardt Elstadt and Gio Aplon were notable absentees at training on Thursday.

"Peter took a bump to his quadriceps muscle and we have to make sure that there's no swelling before he starts training again," said Coetzee.

"Gio and Rynhardt both need a break to keep them off their legs.

"Gio didn't suffer concussion in the last match and the fact that he was wearing protective head gear helped a lot. He is fully recovered."

Coetzee said that it was a mistake to take a week's rest last season after the Stormers had reached the semifinals.

"We didn't take a week off this time and will do the bulk of our training this week instead of waiting for Monday and the days ahead of the match," he said.

"This week it is all about focusing on ourselves and making sure that we are fully in sync with what we want to do. We want to play to our strengths rather than make a mistake of changing the way we are used to playing," he said.