The Cheetahs can look forward to welcoming back no less than four players from injury for their clash against the Brumbies next week.

Jóhann Thormählen – Sport24

After several narrow losses in the Vodacom Super Rugby tournament, the  Cheetahs will hope that the return of a number of top players could spur  them on to a victory in their next match.

No less than four  injured players – among them Springbok flank Heinrich Brüssow – will run  out against the Brumbies at the Free State Stadium next week.

Brüssow  (rib), fullback Hennie Daniller (calf), flank Frans Viljoen (hamstring)  and wing Rayno Benjamin (hamstring) should all be fit.

Benjamin  would already have returned to the team for last week’s game against the  Hurricanes and was picked, but had to be withdrawn at the last minute  as his hamstring injury flared up again.

The Cheetahs have a bye  this week and it’s a blessing in disguise as it gives their injured  players an additional week to recover.

Apart from the above  mentioned players, hooker Adriaan Strauss returned from a hand injury  against the Hurricanes. He was a second half substitute and should be  considered for the starting line-up against the Brumbies.

Daniller could actually have been considered for the Hurricanes game, but the Cheetahs decided not to risk him unnecessarily.

Wing  Philip Snyman (ankle) will also return in the next few weeks. Tackling  is one of his strengths and his team-mates should certainly learn from  him.

The fitness of these players will certainly come as a relief to coach Naka Drotské and give him more selection options.

A number of players failed on defence against the Hurricanes, but Drotské does not have many substitutes at his disposal.

“Hennie  Daniller, Frans Viljoen, Rayno Benjamin and Heinrich Brüssow will  hopefully all be available after the bye. Adriaan Strauss played 40  minutes against the Hurricanes. They are all important players for us,”  said Drotské.

The Cheetahs are struggling for victories, but a  number of young players got opportunities in Super Rugby and showed that  they could be competitive at this level.

Wing Riaan Smit scored  two tries against the Hurricanes in his run-on debut. Other players such  as flyhalf Sias Ebersohn, prop Lourens Adriaanse and lock Martin Muller  also stepped up.

“We still have a lot to play for,” said the Cheetahs coach.

“We  have five home games, as well as clashes against the Lions in  Johannesburg and Bulls in Pretoria left. Last year we managed to turn  things around by winning our last few games. We have to sort the  problems out.”