The Stormers have announced a strong 35-man squad for their trip to Zimbabwe, where they will face the Cheetahs in a pre-season warm-up on Saturday.

Coach Robbie Fleck welcomed back several key figures into the squad, including star flank Siya Kolisi who suffered a serious knee injury in the Stormers' quarter-final defeat against the Chiefs last year.

Another returnee is flyhalf Kurt Coleman, who suffered the same fate as Kolisi in April last season.

Fleck also included promising youngsters Damian Willemse, Justin Phillips and Cobus Wiese in the squad.

The match will feature rolling substitutions, which will give Fleck an opportunity to look at a wide range of players ahead of what will be a challenging Super Rugby campaign for the Cape franchise, who will face the New Zealand teams this year.

'We have changed the way we have approached our pre-season preparations, so I am looking forward to seeing the results of that out on the pitch in Harare,' said Fleck. 

'There is a lot of talent in this squad, so it is about translating that into some good rugby which will give us a good chance to reflect and see where we are at.' 

Stormers squad – Juarno Augustus, Nizaam Carr, Jaco Coetzee, Kurt Coleman, Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh, Dan du Plessis, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Rob du Preez, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Dewaldt Duvenage, Rynhardt Elstadt, Eben Etzebeth, JC Janse van Rensberg, Siya Kolisi, Cheslin Kolbe, Dillyn Leyds, Wilco Louw, Frans Malherbe, SP Marais, Godlen Masimla, Bongi Mbonambi, Khanyo Ngcukana, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Caylib Oosthuizen, Justin Phillips, Ramone Samuels, JD Shickerling, Chad Solomon, Brandon Thomson, Frans van Wyk, Chris van Zyl, Jano Vermaak, Cobus Wiese, Damian Willemse.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images