Bekker back in play for Stormers

Rugby has been going through its pre-season phoney war with players on the fringe of the squad fringe turning out in recent warm-up games.

However, this weekend the Stormers intend bringing some central characters back into a competitive environment.

Stormers lock Andries Bekker and No8 Duane Vermeulen are both ready to make welcome returns after long-term injury lay-offs and coach Allister Coetzee says the team will be close to his best for their outing against the Southern Kings.

Bekker's return in Port Elizabeth will be keenly watched, not only by the Stormers management but also by new Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.

The 28-year-old, 2.08m tall lock is regarded as the natural heir to retired "great" Victor Matfield in a position South Africa is not overly blessed with in terms of depth.

Meyer knows how important the lineout is to modern rugby and Bekker is one of the most skilled exponents in the world. His fitness is of national concern, not only provincial interest.

Bekker has been superb for the past two seasons, but an ankle injury before last year's World Cup left him on the rehabilitation table for six months, and he and Vermeulen only started taking contact last week.

Vermeulen is another player who was most unlucky not to go to New Zealand last year. He was included in the preliminary World Cup squad before torn knee ligaments ended his dream of playing in rugby's showpiece for the Boks.

The marauding No8, who is regarded as one of the finest defensive loose forwards in the game, is a vital cog in the wheel that is the Stormers' back row.

Hooker Tiaan Liebenberg, who has recovered from minor surgery on his nose, which was broken two weeks ago, will also start.

The only major absentee in the pack will be skipper Schalk Burger, who was given leave of absence to attend the Laureus World Sports Awards on Monday night in London.

The Kings ran the Bulls close last week, losing 16-12, so they are expected to offer decent resistance for the Stormers as they put the finishing touches to preparations for their Super 15 opener against the Hurricanes.