Stormers' new signings on show for friendly

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee proudly named expensive off-season signings Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana in the starting lineup for the warm-up match against Australia's Western Force at Newlands tomorrow.

But the coach was unable to select skipper Schalk Burger, who bruised a leg in training last week. He has not made a full recovery and Coetzee decided not to risk the decorated Springbok.

Lock Andries Bekker will captain the Stormers for the first time and Pieter Myburgh will wear the No6 jersey.

"Schalk is very disappointed to miss this clash, but if he can't train before the game, then it's foolish to risk him," Coetzee said after training yesterday. "There's still enough games before the Super 14 for him to play and prepare."

Coetzee was able to choose an almost full-strength squad, though players such as lock Adriaan Fondse, flank Francois Louw, flyhalf Willem de Waal and fullback Conrad Jantjes are still several weeks from full fitness.

His choice of Peter Grant at flyhalf suggests that Coetzee has found a long-term solution to what has been a problem position for the Stormers in the past. SA under-20 star Lionel Cronje, who started in last week's friendly against the University of Cape Town, is on the bench for the encounter.

Conrad Hoffman will start at flyhalf in tomorrow's Western Pro-vince versus Maties curtain-raiser.

In another move that could signal intent for the Super 14 campaign, Juan de Jongh was chosen at inside centre instead of his more accustomed outside centre berth.

With Fourie's arrival from the Lions this year, De Jongh will either have to warm the bench or re-invent himself as a No12. With his talent, making the adjustment should be relatively simple.

Coetzee said: "It is not about the results, but about getting the little things right, things that you cannot work on once the Super14 starts."

STORMERS: Joe Pietersen, Gio Aplon, Jaque Fourie, Juan de Jongh, Bryan Habana, Peter Grant, Dewaldt Duvenage, Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw, Pieter Myburgh, Andries Bekker (captain), De Kock Steenkamp, Brok Harris, Tiaan Liebenberg, Wicus Blaauw. Reserves: Deon Fourie, JC Kritzinger, JD Moller, Anton van Zyl, Jacques Potgieter, Pieter Louw, Bolla Conradie, Lionel Cronje, Sireli Naqelevuki, JJ Engelbrecht.

WP INVITATIONAL XV (TO PLAY MATIES): Jurgen Visser, Fabien Juries, Frikkie Welsh (captain), Paul Bosch, JJ Engelbrecht, Conrad Hoffmann, Bolla Conradie, Yaya Hartzenburg, Pieter Louw, Boetie Britz, Martin Muller, Ryno Elstadt, Esuiebo Guianaza, Callie Visagie, JD Moller. Reserves: Sydney Tobias, Hein van der Merwe, Stephan Greef, Dustin Jinka, Hilton Lobberts, Liam Slatem, Jody Burch, Stokkies Hanekom, Tim Whitehead, Denzil Riddles.