Cheetahs wing Rabz Maxwane has recovered from injury to take his place in the 25-man squad for their match against Zebre on Saturday.

Due to a leg injury, the competition’s tied top try-scorer missed the Cheetahs’ last match against Connacht on 1 December. Twenty-year-old wing Darren Adonis took Maxwane’s place in the starting XV for that game, which the Cheetahs lost 21-17.

Rudy Paige has also been included in the squad that departed for Parma on Wednesday, along with fellow scrumhalves Tian Meyer and Shaun Venter. It will be the first time that Paige will tour with the group.

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Despite taking part in full contact sessions this week, Dries Swanepoel has been left in Bloemfontein, with Nico Lee and Benhard Janse van Rensburg likely to form the centre pairing on Saturday.

Cheetahs squad:  

Forwards: Ox Nche, Luan de Bruin, Aranos Coetzee, Charles Marais, Joseph Dweba, Marnus van der Merwe, Reinach Venter, JP du Preez, Sintu Manjezi, Walt Steenkamp, Justin Basson, Gerhard Olivier, Junior Pokomela, Abongile Nonkontwana, Daniel Maartens.

Backs: Tian Meyer, Shaun Venter, Rudy Paige, Tian Schoeman, Louis Fouche, Nico Lee, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Rabz Maxwane, William Small-Smith, Malcolm Jaer.

Photo:  Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images