Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské has a midfield headache to address following the decision by Meyer Bosman to further his career at the Sharks.

Emerging Springboks player Morgan Newman is one of 10 centres that have to report for duty with the Cheetahs’ provisional training squad in Bloemfontein on November 15.

Drotské is keen to get an idea of the centre talent at his disposal as soon as possible.

Sharks centre Andries Strauss is at least returning home.

The other centres at the coach’s disposal are Robert Ebersohn, Corné Uys, Philip Snyman (all Free State), Barry Geel, Wilmaure Louw, Jean Stemmet (all Griquas) and the Griffons pairing of Werner Griesel and Thabang Molefe.

Griesel was the Griffons’ joint leading try-scorer with six tries in the First Division.

Newman, who was until recently still part of Western Province’s Currie Cup plans , will join for a trial period with former WP wing Alshaun Bock.

Earl Rose, who has been contracted by Griquas, is one of the flyhalves in the squad.

Free State under-21 player Piet van Zyl is one of four scrumhalves.

Griquas wing acquisition Fabian Juries has also been approached by the Cheetahs again, while Lionel Mapoe has been included in spite of the continued tug-of-war over his services between the Sharks and Free State.

Wilhelm Steenkamp (Blue Bulls) and Martin Muller (Griquas) are new locks in the enlarged squad.

With prop CJ van der Linde set to play his rugby in Cape Town from next year, it’s no surprise that a number of props have been asked to report for duty.

Apart from the Cheetahs’ Coenie Oosthuizen and WP Nel, Free State’s Kobus Calldo, youngster Marcel van der Merwe, as well as Steph Roberts (Griquas) and Kevin Stevens (Griffons) have to report for duty.

The squad of 51 players will get together at the Free State Institute for Sports Science for conditioning tests and pre-season planning.

The squad will be reduced to about 30 players by November 26 and the final squad should be announced by mid-January.

Provinsional Cheetahs Super 15 squad:

Free State: Coenie Oosthuizen, Marcel van der Merwe, WP Nel, Kobus Calldo (props), Adriaan Strauss, Skipper Badenhorst (hookers), Francois Uys, Izak van der Westhuizen, Waltie Vermeulen, Wilhelm Steenkamp (locks), Kabamba Floors, Johan Wessels, Juan Smith, Hendro Scholtz, Ashley Johnson, Philip van der Walt (loose forwards), Tewis de Bruyn, Piet van Zyl, Tertius Carse (scrumhalves), Louis Strydom, Sias Ebersohn (flyhalves), Andries Strauss, Corné Uys, Robert Ebersohn, Philip Snyman (centres), Ryno Benjamin, Lionel Mapoe (wings), Hennie Daniller, Riaan Smit (fullbacks).

Griquas: Steph Roberts (prop), Ryno Barnes (hooker), Martin Muller (lock), Davon Raubenheimer (loose forward), Sarel Pretorius (scrumhalf), Naas Olivier, Earl Rose (flyhalves), Barry Geel, Wilmaure Louw, Jean Stemmet (centres), Rocco Jansen, Fabian Juries (wings), Riaan Viljoen (fullback).

Griffons: Kevin Stevens (prop), Werner Griesel, Thabang Molefe (centres).

Trial period: Morgan Newman (centre), Alshaun Bock (wing).

Injured: Heinrich Brüssow, Frans Viljoen (loose forwards), Jongi Nokwe (wing).