Wallabies lock James Horwill will join up with the Reds squad in Bloemfontein ahead of their clash with the Cheetahs on Saturday.

The veteran lock had initially been left out of the 27-man touring squad after being suspended for one week for receiving a red card during the defeat to the Rebels in round eight.

However, following an injury to lock Dave McDuling at Loftus over the weekend, Horwill has been drafted in as second-row cover.

Reds coach Richard Graham says Horwill's original exclusion had little to do with his disciplinary record, but rather his impact on the squad's ability to train with a suspended player.

'Of course I was disappointed with him. I spoke to him but I didn't have to speak at length or anything. He knew what he'd done,' Graham told AAP.

'There's no bloke more disappointed or more gutted than himself. He's played enough rugby to know he put the team under pressure. He's bled for the joint, he cares passionately about the joint.'

The Reds enter the match on the back of a six-match losing streak after going down 43-22 to the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus over the weekend.

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