Strauss leads the rush of the BIG Bulls

It will be the former Springbok captain's first match since the Boks' year-end tour.

Strauss, who has since retired from international rugby, underwent surgery to his lower back late last year.

He is set to take over the captaincy from Handré Pollard at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

Also returning from injury are Duncan Matthews, Jason Jenkins, Jannes Kirsten, Arno Botha, Lodewyk de Jager and Jade Stighling to full training.

They will all be available for selection this week.

Jacques Potgieter has not recovered from the concussion he suffered against the Cheetahs in Round Two and will sit out this week's match against the Sunwolves.

He is expected to be fit for the tour to New Zealand and Japan.

Kirsten (shoulder surgery) and Botha (shoulder surgery) are also set to play their first games of the season.

On the long term injury list Roelof Smit, Shaun Adendorff and Ulrich Beyers will only be back in mid to end April.

Conraad van Vuuren is expected to be fit in two weeks.

Luther Obi suffered a concussion in the warm-up match for the new interprovincial challenge competition - when they played the Sharks XV last weekend.

He will be assessed after a week on the sidelines.